Body-worn air-treatment devices and methods of deactivating pathogens

ABSTRACT

Body-worn air-treatment devices include a body that is configured to be selectively coupled proximate to a respiratory tract inlet of a living individual, and a pathogen-deactivating mechanism that is supported by the body. Methods include deactivating pathogens proximate to a respiratory tract inlet of a living individual.

RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 63/044,966, which was filed on Jun. 26, 2020, and thecomplete disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to body-worn air-treatment devices, touses thereof, and to methods of deactivating pathogens.

BACKGROUND

Living individuals may contract diseases via a variety of mechanisms, orcontamination paths. One such way is via inhalation of pathogens intothe living individual's respiratory tract, such as via the livingindividual's nose or mouth. In a similar manner, infected individualsmay spread disease to other living individuals and/or contaminateobjects with pathogens by exhaling air that contains the pathogens.Proper sanitation of objects and frequent handwashing may help reducethe likelihood of such pathogens being inhaled by a living individual,but conventional solutions are limited, such as to prevent the actualinhalation or exhalation of pathogens by a living individual. Masks andface shields may be utilized to provide physical barriers proximate tothe inlets to the living individual's respiratory tract, but suchphysical barriers do not deactivate pathogens and may even become acarrier or accumulator of active pathogens. Accordingly, there exists aneed for effective, body-worn air-treatment devices for deactivatingpathogens, and especially for deactivating pathogens proximate to aninlet to a living individual's respiratory tract.

SUMMARY

Body-worn air-treatment devices and related methods are disclosedherein. The devices comprise a body that is configured to be selectivelycoupled proximate to a respiratory tract inlet of a living individual,and a pathogen-deactivating mechanism that is supported by the body. Themethods comprise deactivating pathogens proximate to a respiratory tractinlet of a living individual.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram representing examples of body-wornair-treatment devices.

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of an example living individualthat may wear a body-worn air-treatment device.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view representing example bodiesof body-worn air-treatment devices.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view representing examplebody-worn air-treatment devices.

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view representing examplebody-worn air-treatment devices.

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view representing examplebody-worn air-treatment devices.

FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view representing examplebody-worn air-treatment devices.

FIG. 8 is a schematic fragmentary cross-sectional view representingexample bodies of body-worn air-treatment devices.

FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view representing examplebody-worn air-treatment devices.

FIG. 10 is a schematic detailed view representing example body-wornair-treatment devices.

FIG. 11 is a schematic detailed view representing example body-wornair-treatment devices.

FIG. 12 is a schematic illustration representing example tooth-mountedbody-worn air-treatment devices.

FIG. 13 is a schematic illustration representing example body-wornair-treatment devices.

FIG. 14 is a schematic illustration representing example body-wornair-treatment devices.

FIG. 15 is a schematic illustration representing example nose-mountedair-treatment devices, shown in a sprung conformation.

FIG. 16 is a schematic illustration representing the examplenose-mounted air-treatment devices of FIG. 15 , shown conformed to ortoward a flexed conformation.

FIG. 17 is a schematic illustration representing example nose-mountedair-treatment devices, shown in a sprung conformation.

FIG. 18 is a schematic illustration representing the examplenose-mounted air-treatment devices of FIG. 17 , shown conformed to ortoward a flexed conformation.

FIG. 19 is a schematic illustration representing example nose-mountedair-treatment devices, shown in a sprung conformation.

FIG. 20 is a schematic illustration representing the examplenose-mounted air-treatment devices of FIG. 19 , shown conformed to ortoward a flexed conformation.

FIG. 21 is an end view of an example nose-mounted air-treatment device.

FIG. 22 is an isometric front cross-sectional view of the nose-mountedair-treatment device of FIG. 21 .

FIG. 23 is an isometric rear view of the nose-mounted air-treatmentdevice of FIG. 21 .

FIG. 24 is a rear view of the nose-mounted air-treatment device of FIG.21 .

FIG. 25 is a front view of the nose-mounted air-treatment device of FIG.21 .

FIG. 26 is a side view of the nose-mounted air-treatment device of FIG.21 .

FIG. 27 is an end view of the nose-mounted air-treatment device of FIG.21 .

FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional front view of the nose-mountedair-treatment device of FIG. 21 .

FIG. 29 is an isometric front view of the nose-mounted air-treatmentdevice of FIG. 21

FIG. 30 is a schematic illustration representing example nose-mountedair-treatment devices, shown in a sprung conformation.

FIG. 31 is a schematic illustration representing the examplenose-mounted air-treatment devices of FIG. 30 , shown conformed to ortoward a flexed conformation.

FIG. 32 is a schematic illustration representing example nose-mountedair-treatment devices, shown in a sprung conformation.

FIG. 33 is a schematic illustration representing the examplenose-mounted air-treatment devices of FIG. 32 , shown conformed to ortoward a flexed conformation.

FIG. 34 is a schematic illustration representing example nose-mountedair-treatment devices, shown in a sprung conformation.

FIG. 35 is a schematic illustration representing the examplenose-mounted air-treatment devices of FIG. 34 , shown conformed to ortoward a flexed conformation.

FIG. 36 is a schematic illustration representing example nose-mountedair-treatment devices, shown in a sprung conformation.

FIG. 37 is a schematic illustration representing the examplenose-mounted air-treatment devices of FIG. 36 , shown conformed to ortoward a flexed conformation.

FIG. 38 is a side view of an example nose-mounted air-treatment device.

FIG. 39 is another side view of the nose-mounted air-treatment device ofFIG. 38 .

FIG. 40 is a rear view of the nose-mounted air-treatment device of FIG.38 .

FIG. 41 is a rear isometric view of the nose-mounted air-treatmentdevice of FIG. 38 .

FIG. 42 is a schematic illustration representing example tooth-mountedbody-worn air-treatment devices.

FIG. 43 is a schematic illustration representing example tooth-mountedbody-worn air-treatment devices.

FIG. 44 is an isometric view of an example tooth-mounted body-wornair-treatment device.

FIG. 45 is a top plan view of the example tooth-mounted body-wornair-treatment device of FIG. 44 .

FIG. 46 is a side view of the example tooth-mounted body-wornair-treatment device of FIG. 44 .

FIG. 47 is a side view of a variant of the example tooth-mountedbody-worn air-treatment device of FIG. 44 .

FIG. 48 is a schematic illustration representing example head-mountedbody-worn air-treatment devices, shown being worn by a livingindividual.

FIG. 49 is a schematic illustration representing example head-mountedbody-worn air-treatment devices, shown being worn by a livingindividual.

FIG. 50 is a schematic circuit diagram representing example electronicsof body-worn air-treatment devices.

FIG. 51 is another schematic circuit diagram representing exampleelectronics of body-worn air-treatment devices.

FIG. 52 is another schematic circuit diagram representing exampleelectronics of body-worn air-treatment devices.

FIG. 53 is a flowchart schematically representing methods ofdeactivating pathogens.

DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 schematically represents body-worn air-treatment devices 10according to the present disclosure, FIG. 2 schematically represents aliving individual 102 that may wear, or don, a body-worn air-treatmentdevice 10, FIGS. 3-52 less schematically illustrate examples ofbody-worn air-treatment devices 10 and/or portions thereof, and FIG. 53schematically represents methods of deactivating pathogens. While FIG. 2schematically illustrates an example of a living individual 102 in theform of a human 118, body-worn air-treatment devices 10 also may be usedand/or configured to be used with non-human animals. Generally in thefigures, elements that are likely to be included in a given example orembodiment are illustrated in solid lines, while elements that areoptional to a given example or embodiment are illustrated in dashedlines. However, elements that are illustrated in solid lines are notessential to all examples or embodiments of the present disclosure, andan element shown in solid lines may be omitted from a particular exampleor embodiment without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure. Where appropriate, the reference numerals from the schematicdiagram of FIG. 1 are used to designate corresponding parts of theexamples of FIGS. 3-52 ; however, the examples of FIGS. 3-52 arenon-exclusive and do not limit body-worn air-treatment devices 10 to theillustrated embodiments of FIGS. 3-52 . That is, body-worn air-treatmentdevices 10 are not limited to the specific examples of FIGS. 3-52 , andbody-worn air-treatment devices 10 may incorporate any number of thevarious aspects, configurations, characteristics, properties, etc. ofbody-worn air-treatment devices 10 that are illustrated in and discussedwith reference to the schematic diagram of FIG. 1 and/or the examples ofFIGS. 3-52 , as well as variations thereof, without requiring theinclusion of all such aspects, configurations, characteristics,properties, etc. For the purpose of brevity, each component, part,portion, aspect, region, etc. or variants thereof discussed inconnection with FIG. 1 may not be discussed, illustrated, and/or labeledagain with respect to FIGS. 3-52 ; however, it is within the scope ofthe present disclosure that the features, variants, etc. discussed inconnection with FIG. 1 may be utilized with any suitable example orembodiment according to the present disclosure.

As schematically represented in FIG. 1 , body-worn air-treatment devices10 comprise at least a body 12 and a pathogen-deactivating mechanism 14.Body-worn air-treatment devices 10 additionally or alternatively may bereferred to herein as air-purifying devices 10, pathogen-deactivatingdevices 10, air-treatment devices 10, or simply as devices 10. The body12 is configured to be selectively coupled proximate a respiratory tractinlet 100 of a living individual 102, and the pathogen-deactivatingmechanism 14 is supported by the body 12. Accordingly, when the body 12is coupled proximate a respiratory tract inlet 100 (illustrated in FIG.2 ) of a living individual 102, the pathogen-deactivating mechanism 14is positioned to deactivate pathogens as they enter and/or exit therespiratory tract inlet 100. In some examples, the pathogen-deactivatingmechanism 14 may be described as an active pathogen-deactivatingmechanism 14 and/or as being configured to actively deactivate pathogensas they enter and/or exit the respiratory tract inlet 100. An activepathogen-deactivating mechanism 14 may be described as apathogen-deactivating mechanism that requires electricity and/or thatgenerates an emission (e.g., light or an electric field) to operativelyfunction. Passive pathogen-deactivating mechanisms 14 and/orpathogen-deactivating mechanisms 14 with a passive deactivatingcomponent or element also are within the scope of the presentdisclosure, such as examples where one or more components of a body-wornair-treatment device 10 are constructed of an antimicrobial material, asdiscussed herein. In some examples, a body-worn air-treatment device 10may be described as an intra-body-worn air-treatment device 10, in thatthe device itself or at least a portion thereof is positioned within theliving individual's body when operatively donned. However, as disclosedherein, this is not required of all body-worn air-treatment devices 10according to the present disclosure.

The body 12 additionally or alternatively may be referred to herein asthe housing 12, the frame 12, the hub 12, and/or the shell 12 of thedevice 10. The pathogen-deactivating mechanism 14 additionally oralternatively may be referred to herein as the pathogen-deactivatingassembly 14, the pathogen-deactivating components 14, thepathogen-deactivating circuit 14, and/or the pathogen-deactivatingmodule 14 of the device 10. As used herein, references to thepathogen-deactivating mechanism 14 or another component of the device 10being supported by the body 12 include the pathogen-deactivatingmechanism 14 or other component being at least one of housed within,encapsulated within, secured to, coupled to, embedded within, extendingfrom, positioned by, protected by, shielded by, embodied within, adheredto, formed within, mounted upon, and/or mounted within the body 12.

With reference to FIG. 2 , respiratory tract inlets 100 include thethreshold (i.e., nasal nostril inlet) to the nose 104 and the threshold(i.e., lips) to the mouth 106 of a living individual 102, and as usedherein, “proximate a respiratory tract inlet 100” means at, within, atleast partially within, extending at least partially into, insertedwithin, installed within, projecting at least partially from, adjacentto (e.g., within a threshold distance 150 (illustrated in FIGS. 48-49 )of) the threshold to the nose 104 or the threshold to the mouth 106 of aliving individual 102. Respiratory tract inlets 100 also may bedescribed as respiratory tract outlets or thresholds 100. Examples ofthe threshold distance 150 include at most 20 centimeters (cm), at most15 cm, at most 10 cm, at most 5 cm, at most 2.5 cm, 0-40 cm, 0-30 cm,0-20 cm, 0-10 cm, 0-5 cm, 0.1-30 cm, 0.1-20 cm, 0.1-10 cm, 0.1-5 cm,0.5-15 cm, 0.5-10 cm, and/or 0.5-5 cm.

Examples of pathogens include bacteria, viruses, and othermicroorganisms that cause disease in living individuals 102. As usedherein, “deactivate,” “deactivating,” and/or “deactivation of” pathogensmeans the rendering of pathogens ineffective or at least less effectivein causing associated diseases in living individuals 102. For example,deactivation may include one or more of damaging the DNA and/or RNA ofthe pathogens, killing the pathogens, disrupting a membrane of thepathogens, rendering the pathogens unable to reproduce, etc.“Deactivate”, “deactivation,” and “deactivating” additionally oralternatively may be referred to as “inactivate,” “inactivation,” and“inactivating.”

Accordingly, body-worn air-treatment devices 10 are configured to beworn by a living individual 102 so that pathogens entering and/orexiting the living individual's respiratory tract inlet 100 becomedeactivated and thus unable, or at least less likely to, cause diseasein the living individual 102 or others.

In some examples of devices 10, the pathogen-deactivating mechanism 14comprises at least one light source 54 that is supported by the body 12and that is configured to emit light within a germicidal spectrum, suchas UV light (i.e., light having a wavelength in the range of 100 to 400nanometers (nm)). UVC light (i.e., light having a wavelength in therange of 100 to 280 nm) is generally considered to be germicidal becauseit disrupts DNA base pairing, causing formation of pyrimidine dimers,and leads to the inactivation of bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. Insome examples, a light source 54 is configured to emit light solelywithin the germicidal spectrum, or within the UVC range. Additionally oralternatively, a light source 54 may be configured to not emit any lightwithin the visible spectrum. Accordingly, in such an example, when adevice 10 is worn and used, the light source 54 will not be visible tothe living individual 102 or others. For example, in a nose-mountedembodiment, the living individual's nose will not glow or otherwise beilluminated, and similarly in mouth-mounted embodiments, the livingindividual's mouth will not glow or otherwise be illuminated. Moreover,in such examples, visible light will not be emitted from thecorresponding respiratory tract inlet.

A desired spectrum of emitted light may be accomplished by selecting aspecific type or configuration of light source 54 and/or by filteringthe light emitted by a light source 54. In some examples of devices 10,the light source 54 comprises a light filter 74, such as that isselected to restrict unwanted spectrums of light from being emitted fromthe light source 54. For example, and as discussed herein, in someexamples or embodiments it may be desirable to filter out (i.e.,restrict or prevent) visible light from being emitted. Additionally oralternatively, in some examples, it may be desirable to avoid and/orfilter out (i.e., block) light that damages human tissue, such as lightwithin the UVA spectrum, within the UVB spectrum, or within the near UVCspectrum. In some examples, the light source 54 is configured to emitlight within the far UVC range (205-230 nm) and optionally solely withinthe far UVC range. In some such examples, the light has a wavelength of222 nm, and optionally a substantial portion of or optionally all of thelight has a wavelength of 222 nm. The light source 54 may include atleast one light, or light-emitting structure, with examples includingbulbs and LEDs 76. In some examples, a preferred light source 54 is oneor more LEDs 76.

In some examples of devices 10, a light source 54 may be configured toemit light within at least one, and optionally both, nostrils 112 of anose 104 of a living individual 102 when the body 12 is operativelycoupled relative to the nose 104. In some such examples, a light source54 may be configured to emit the light primarily, and optionally solely,within a single nostril 112 when the body 12 is operatively coupledrelative to the nose 104, as opposed to a device in which a light source54 is positioned external of a nose 104 and is configured to directlight into both nostrils 112 of a living individual. Each of the examplenose-mounted devices 300 of FIGS. 15-29, 34-35, and 38-41 are examplesof such devices 10 that include a light source 54 that emits lightprimarily within a single nostril 112. Some devices 10 comprise morethan one light source 54, with a first light source 54 that isconfigured to emit light primarily, and optionally solely, within afirst nostril 112, and a second light source 54 that is configured toemit light primarily, and optionally solely, within a second nostril 112when the body 12 is operatively coupled relative to the nose 104. Eachof example nose-mounted devices 306, 308, and 314 of FIGS. 30-33 and36-37 are examples of such devices 10.

In some devices 10 that comprise one or more light sources 54, the body12 at least partially, and optionally at least substantially orcompletely, defines a void 28 that is and/or extends inward, optionallyradially inward, from an exterior, or exterior surface, of the body 12.In some such embodiments, the at least one light source 54 may besupported by the body 12 in a position such that when a light source 54is activated, the light is directed to an entirety of the void 28.Accordingly, when the device 10 is operatively donned by a livingindividual 102, all air passing through the void 28 as a result of theliving individual's breathing will be impinged by the light and thus thepathogens therein deactivated by the device 10. In some such examples,the body 12 may be sized, shaped, and/or otherwise configured to abut,extend against, and/or form an at least partial, if not complete,barrier to air flow against the corresponding portion of the respiratorytract inlet 100, such as a nostril 112, so that all air flowing throughthe nostril must flow through the void, and thus be impinged by thelight and thus deactivated by the device 10. Each of examplenose-mounted devices 310, 302, and 304 of FIGS. 15-20 are examples ofsuch devices 10.

The void 28 additionally or alternatively may be described as an airpassage 28, a deactivation passage 28, and/or a treatment passage 28. Insome devices 10, the device 10 defines, or bounds, the entire perimeterof the void (i.e., the surface of the void that extends between thevoid's inlet and outlet), and such a void may be referred to as a closedvoid. The devices 10 of FIGS. 3-7, 9-12, 15-18, and 20 are examples ofdevices 10 that define a void 28 in the form of a closed void. In somedevices 10, the body 12 may be sized, shaped, and/or otherwiseconfigured such that the body 12 together with a portion of the livingindividual's tissue (e.g., the inside surface of a nostril 112) definesthe void 28, and collectively forms a barrier to air flow against thecorresponding portion of the respiratory tract inlet 100, such as anostril 112, so that all air flowing through the nostril must flowthrough the void, and thus be impinged by the light and thus deactivatedby the device 10. In such examples, the void 28 may be described as anopen void. Each of example nose-mounted devices 304 and 330 of FIGS.19-29 are examples of such devices 10.

In some devices 10 that comprise one or more light sources 54, the lightsource(s) 54 is/are configured to emit a curtain 55 of light proximateto a nasal cavity 114 and/or the mouth 106 of a living individual 102when the body 12 is operatively coupled proximate to the respiratorytract inlet 100 of the living individual 102. As used herein, a curtain55 of light, or light curtain 55, is or includes a volume in space,through which the light emitted when the light source(s) 54 shines, withthe volume having at least one side that defines a boundary of the lightcurtain. For example, such a light curtain 55 may have a proximalboundary and/or a distal boundary generally spaced in front of the faceof the living individual 102 wearing the device, so that the lightshines within at least a threshold distance proximal the livingindividual's face so that the mechanism 14 may deactivate pathogensentering or exiting the inlets of the living individual's respiratorytract. In examples where a proximal boundary (i.e., adjacent to theliving individual's face) is defined, the light curtain 55 thereforedoes not impinge on the living individual's facial tissue, avoidingdamage thereto in examples where the emitted light is within a spectrumthat potentially damages human tissue (e.g., UVA, UVB, and near UVC). Inexamples where a distal boundary (i.e., distal from the livingindividual's face) is defined, the light curtain 55 therefore does notshine away from the living individual in an undesirable direction, suchas toward other individuals in proximity to the living individual 102wearing the device 10. Some such devices 10 further comprise one or morestructures 59 (e.g., lenses 56 and/or reflectors 58) that are supportedby the body 12 and/or that are defined by the body 12 relative to thelight source(s) 54 and that are configured to direct the light as thelight curtain 55, such as to define the boundaries thereof. Thedimensions, boundaries, and shape of a light curtain 55 may varydepending on the properties of the light source 54 and/or on the type oflight emitted therefrom. In some examples, a thin light curtain may bedesired to avoid impingement of light on the living individual's tissueand to avoid the light impinging on others or objects in the vicinity ofthe living individual. In other examples, a wider light curtain may bedesired to increase the exposure time that air (and thus pathogens)experiences as the air passes through the light curtain.

In some devices 10 that comprise one or more light sources 54, the lightsource(s) 54 is/are supported by the body 12 such that the body 12shields tissue of the living individual 102 from the light emitted bythe light source(s) 54 when the body 12 is operatively coupled proximateto the respiratory tract inlet 100 of the living individual 102. Forexample, in examples where the light source 54 emits light within aspectrum (e.g., UVA, UVB, or near UVC) that potentially damages humantissue, the body 12 will prevent such damage by shielding tissue fromimpingement by the emitted light. The schematic examples of bodies 12 inat least FIGS. 4-6 provide such functionality.

Additionally or alternatively, in some devices 10 that comprise one ormore light sources 54, the body 12 is shaped to shield tissue of theliving individual 102 from the light when the body 12 is operativelycoupled proximate to the respiratory tract inlet 100 of the livingindividual 102. For example, in some such devices 10, the body 12defines the void 28, and the light source(s) 54 is/are configured toemit light solely within the void 28. Additionally or alternatively, insome examples, the body 12 defines a light trap 60, and the lightsource(s) 54 is/are configured to emit light solely within the lighttrap 60. At least FIGS. 4-6 schematically illustrate examples of bodies12 that define light traps 60.

Additionally or alternatively, the body 12, and optionally the void 28extending therein, may define a circuitous pathway 62, through which air(e.g., a living individual's breath) is permitted to flow when the body12 is operatively coupled proximate to the respiratory tract inlet 100of the living individual 102, and with the light source(s) 54 beingconfigured to emit light throughout at least a substantial portion ofthe circuitous pathway 62. FIGS. 4-6 schematically illustrate examplesof bodies 12 that define circuitous pathways 62. In some examples, thecircuitous pathway 62 is fully within or substantially within a nostril112 of a living individual 102 when the body 12 is operatively coupledproximate to the respiratory tract inlet 100 of the living individual102. In other examples, the circuitous pathway 62 may extend within andoutside of a nostril 112 of a living individual 102 when the body 12 isoperatively coupled proximate to the respiratory tract inlet 100 of theliving individual 102. When provided, the circuitous pathway 62 maydefine a light trap 60, as discussed above. Also, the circuitous pathway62 enables a longer exposure time for air passing through the body 12when a living individual 102 donning the device is breathing, therebyincreasing the effectiveness of the pathogen-deactivating function ofthe pathogen-deactivating mechanism 14.

Additionally or alternatively, the body 12 may define a plurality ofbaffles 63 extending into or otherwise positioned within the void 28.When present, the baffles 63 are configured to cause air flow throughthe void 28 to be disrupted or otherwise turbulent such that the airpassing through the void 28, when a living individual 102 donning thedevice is breathing, has a longer exposure time from thepathogen-deactivating mechanism 14 compared to a similarly structureddevice without the baffles 63. Accordingly, in such devices 10, theeffectiveness of the pathogen-deactivating function of the lightsource(s) 54 is increased. The baffles 63, when present, optionally maydefine a circuitous pathway 62. When present, the baffles 63 may takeany suitable configuration such that they disrupt the air flow and causea longer exposure time. As examples, the baffles 63 may comprise ridgesor ribs extending from and/or between one or more surfaces (e.g., inwardsurface(s) 64) of the body 12. The baffles 63 may be shaped, positioned,and/or oriented to optimally disrupt the air flow but without makingbreathing by a user restrictive or difficult. In some examples, thebaffles 63 may have terminal ends that extend generally or partially inthe direction of air flow so that the air is directed away from the bulkflow direction of the air flow. In some such examples, a subset of thebaffles 63 may extend toward the opening to the void 28 that faces awayfrom the user and a subset of the baffles 63 may extend toward theopening to the void 28 that faces within the user. The examplenose-mounted device 330 of FIGS. 21-29 is an example of such devices 10having two subsets of baffles 63 with terminal ends that respectivelyextend into the opposing directions of air flow and that are curved awayfrom the directions of air flow so that the air flow is suitablydisrupted to increase exposure time by the light source 54.

In some devices 10 that comprise one or more light sources 54, and inwhich the body 12 at least partially defines the void 28, the body 12may include an inward, or interior, surface 64 that faces the void 28,with the inward surface 64 being reflective, so as to concentrate thelight emitted by the light source(s) 54 within the void, through whichair passes, and thus to increase the effectiveness of thepathogen-deactivating function of the light source(s) 54. As examples,the inward surface 64 may have a reflectance of at least 20%, at least40%, at least 60%, or at least 80% for the light emitted by the lightsource(s) 54 and/or at least for a desired subset of the spectrum of thelight emitted by the light source(s) 54 (e.g., for far UVC light).

In some devices 10 that comprise one or more light sources 54, and inwhich the body 12 at least partially defines the void 28, the body 12comprises a covering 70 that extends across the void 28, with thecovering 70 being configured to permit air flow therethrough. Such acovering 70 therefore may serve as a light filter to restrict passage ofcertain wavelengths of light and/or as an air filter to filter outparticles within the air, as a user breathes through the void 28. Forexample, covering 70 may be configured to restrict passage of visiblelight therethrough, so when operatively donned and used by a livingindividual, visible light will not be emitted from the livingindividual's nose or mouth, depending on the type of device 10.Additionally or alternatively, in some examples, the covering 70 isfurther configured to restrict passage of UV light therethrough.Accordingly, in examples where the light source(s) 54 emit(s) portionsof the UV spectrum that may damage human tissue, those portions of theUV spectrum may be filtered out by the covering 70, so as to avoidunintended damage to human tissue. For example, the covering 70 may beconfigured to restrict passage of UV light outside of the far UVC rangetherethrough.

In some examples of devices 10 that comprise a covering 70 and whosebody defines the void 28, the void 28 has first and secondlongitudinally spaced end regions 72, and the covering 70 extends acrossone of the first and the second longitudinally spaced end regions 72. Inother examples, the covering 70 extends across both of the first and thesecond longitudinally spaced end regions 72. In some examples, thecovering encapsulates the body 12. FIG. 7 schematically illustrates suchoptional examples.

In some devices 10, the pathogen-deactivating mechanism 14 is configuredto generate an electric field 77 through which air being inhaled orexhaled through a given nasal cavity 114 is forced to flow when the body12 is operatively coupled proximate to the respiratory tract inlet 100of the living individual 102, for example, with the electric field 77being sufficient to deactivate the pathogens. In some such examples, thepathogen-deactivating mechanism 14 comprises electrodes 81 operativelycoupled to a power source 82 (such as a battery or batteries 84) andconfigured to generate an electric field 77 between the electrodes 81and within the void 28 defined by the body 12. In some examples, thepathogen-deactivating mechanism 14 comprises an electroceutical fabric78 that defines the electrodes 81. For example, in some such examples,the body 12 at least partially defines the void 28 through which air ispermitted, and optionally forced, to flow when the body 12 isoperatively coupled proximate to the respiratory tract inlet 100 of aliving individual 102, and the electroceutical fabric 78 at leastpartially spans the void 28 to create the electric field 77, throughwhich air flows when the living individual 102 breathes. In some suchexamples, the electroceutical fabric 78 comprises a plurality of plies80 that spans the void 28. FIGS. 10 and 11 schematically illustrateexamples of devices 10 with electroceutical fabric 78. In example device10 of FIG. 10 , the electroceutical fabric 78 spans the void 28 acrossthe longitudinal axis of the void (i.e., transverse thereto), with theelectroceutical fabric 78 not only creating an electric field or fields77 but also filtering the air. In example device 10 of FIG. 11 , theelectroceutical fabric 78 spans the void 28 in a direction aligned withthe longitudinal axis of the void 28 (i.e., in a direction of air flow),thereby not hindering the flow of air, or at least hindering the flow ofair less than in examples where the electroceutical fabric 78 spanstransverse to the longitudinal axis of the void 28. In some examples, anoptional covering 70 comprises electroceutical fabric 78 that generatesan electric field 77.

In some examples of devices 10, the body 12 is configured to support apower source 82 (e.g., one or more batteries 84) to power thepathogen-deactivating mechanism 14. In some such examples, device 10further comprises the power source 82. That is, some devices 10 may comewith a power source installed, while other devices 10 may come without apower source 82 installed and thus require a power source to beoperatively connected to the device 10 before the device 10 may beutilized to deactivate pathogens. Some devices 10 may comprise anintegral power source 82 that is not configured to be replaced. Somesuch devices 10 may be constructed as a single use device, with suchdevices 10 not being designed or intended to have power source 82replaced or recharged when depleted. In some examples, an integraland/or preinstalled power source 82 may be restricted from operativelyproviding power by a temporary tab, or other structure, that isconfigured to be removed by an end user, such that when an end userpulls the tab, the power source 82 provides power to thepathogen-deactivating mechanism 14.

Devices 10 that are constructed as a single use device may beinexpensive to produce and may be well suited for distribution at largepublic gatherings or events, such as concerts, sporting events,political and other rallies, conventions, etc. For example, such devices10 may be distributed to attendees as they arrive at an event andattendees may be required, or encouraged, to use the device 10 duringthe event.

Other devices 10, however, may comprise a power source 82 that isrechargeable, such as one or more rechargeable batteries 84, with suchdevices 10 therefore being designed or intended to be used multipletimes. Such a power source 82 may be referred to as a rechargeable powersource. In some examples, the power source 82 (i.e., one or morerechargeable batteries 84) is configured to be recharged via acontactless recharger. Such examples may be able to have a smalleroverall volume without the need for a recharging port or an access panelfor end users to be able to remove and replace batteries 84. In otherexamples, however, devices 10 may include a charging port 66 that issupported by the body 12 and that is configured to be selectivelycoupled to an external power source for charging the power source 82.

Some devices 10 comprise a controller 85 that is supported by the body12. When present, the controller 85 may be configured, constructed,and/or programmed to control various functions of a device 10. Forexample, the controller 85 may be configured to regulate a voltageapplied by and/or a current supplied by a power source 82 to thepathogen-deactivating mechanism 14. In some examples, the controller 85is configured to track a number of cycles that the pathogen-deactivatingmechanism 14 has been activated. Additionally or alternatively, in someexamples, the controller 85 may be configured to track a length of timethat the pathogen-deactivating mechanism 14 has been selectivelyactivated. In some examples, the controller 85 is configured to restrictactivation of the pathogen-deactivating mechanism 14 upon thepathogen-deactivating mechanism 14 having been activated for apredetermined length of time, upon the power source 82 falling below apredetermined power level, and/or based at least in part on criteriaassociated with efficacy of the pathogen-deactivating mechanism 14. Insome examples, the controller 85 is configured to generate an alert uponthe pathogen-deactivating mechanism 14 having been activated for apredetermined length of time, upon the power source 82 falling below apredetermined power level, and/or based at least in part on criteriaassociated with efficacy of the pathogen-deactivating mechanism 14.Additionally or alternatively, in some examples, the controller 85 isconfigured to determine a potential output of the power source 82 and torestrict activation of the pathogen-deactivating mechanism 14 when thepower source 82 does not have sufficient potential output to activatethe at least one pathogen-deactivating mechanism 14 for a predeterminedperiod of time.

Accordingly, the controller 85 may be configured to deactivate a device10, or otherwise restrict activation of the pathogen-deactivatingmechanism 14 thereof, or may alert a user when the device or thepathogen-deactivating mechanism 14 thereof is incapable of deactivatingpathogens at a desired or requisite level, so that a user does not usethe device 10 or attempt to use the device 10 when the device 10 will beineffective for its pathogen-deactivating purpose. A user therefore mayrefrain, or be restricted, from further use of the device 10 until thepower source 82 is recharged and/or the pathogen-deactivating mechanism14, or component thereof (e.g., a light source 54), is replaced.

A controller 85 may be any suitable device or devices that areconfigured to perform the functions of the controller 85 discussedherein. For example, the controller 85 may include one or more of anelectronic controller, a dedicated controller, a special-purposecontroller, a microprocessor, a circuit board, a logic device, a memorydevice, and/or a memory device having computer-readable media 92suitable for storing computer-executable instructions for implementingaspects of devices 10 and and/or methods according to the presentdisclosure. Additionally or alternatively, a controller 85 may include,or be configured to read, non-transitory computer-readable storage, ormemory, media 92 suitable for storing computer-executable instructions,or software, for implementing methods or steps of methods according tothe present disclosure. Examples of such media 92 include flash memoryand ROM. As used herein, storage, or memory, devices and media 92 havingcomputer-executable instructions as well as computer-implemented methodsand other methods according to the present disclosure are considered tobe within the scope of subject matter deemed patentable in accordancewith Section 101 of Title 35 of the United States Code.

Some examples of devices 10 comprise a user control 86 that is supportedby the body 12 and that is operatively coupled to, or in communicationwith, the controller 85. When present, the user control 86 may beconfigured to permit a user to activate the pathogen-deactivatingmechanism 14, deactivate pathogen-deactivating mechanism 14, program thecontroller 85, and/or set an activation period of time for thepathogen-deactivating mechanism 14. Examples of user controls 86 includeon/off switches, dials, buttons, touch screens, etc.

Some devices 10 comprise an indicator 94 that is supported by the body12 and that is configured to indicate a current status of the device 10,such as a battery level, an on/off status, etc. The indicator 94, whenpresent, may take any suitable form, including, for example, a visibleindicator, such as a visible light LED, and/or an audible indicator,such as a piezoelectric buzzer, beeper, or speaker. In example devices10 that are nose-mounted, as discussed herein, an indicator 94 may takethe form of a visible light LED that is positioned to emit light thatwill be visible outside of the nose 104 when the device 10 is donned andwhen the pathogen-deactivating mechanism 14 is operatively functioning.Accordingly, third parties will be able to readily see that the livingindividual 102 donning the device 10 has an active device 10 in place.In such an example, the visible light LED may be sized and/or selectedto provide such a visible indicator without overly illuminating theliving individual's face, impairing the living individual's vision, etc.

Some devices 10 comprise a display 96 that is supported by the body 12and that is configured to display information associated with the device10, such as battery level, on/off status, a timer, a programminginterface, etc. Displays 96 may take any suitable form including, forexample, electroluminescent displays, liquid crystal displays, and LEDdisplays.

Some examples of devices 10 comprise a wireless transceiver 88 and/or awired connection port 90 supported by the body 12 and coupled to thecontroller 85. When so included, the controller 85 is configured tosend, such as via the wireless transceiver 88 and/or the wiredconnection port 90, signals representative of one or more of a status ofthe power source 82, a status of the at least one pathogen-deactivatingmechanism 14, the voltage across the power source 82, the current ableto be supplied by the power source 82, the number of cycles that thepathogen-deactivating mechanism 14 has been activated, the length oftime that the pathogen-deactivating mechanism 14 has been activated,and/or a subsequent length of time the power source 82 is able tooperatively power the at least one pathogen-deactivating mechanism 14.Accordingly, devices 10 may be configured to be operatively coupled toan external computing device, such as a personal computer, a laptopcomputer, a mobile computing device, a smart phone, a smart watch, atablet computer, etc. to facilitate a user determining a status of thedevice. Similarly, in some examples, the controller 85 is configured toreceive, such as via the wireless transceiver 88 and/or the wiredconnection port 90, signals representative of instructions to activatethe power source(s) 82, deactivate the power source(s) 82, program thecontroller 85, and/or set an activation period of time for thepathogen-deactivating mechanism 14. Accordingly, devices 10 may beconfigured to be operated and/or programmed via an external computingdevice. In some examples, the external computing device may replicate,substitute for, or function as, the indicator 94 and/or the display 96of the device. In some examples, a device 10 may be used in combinationwith software stored on an external computing device, with the softwarecomprising computer-executable instructions configured to cause acomputing device to communicate with the controller 85 via the wirelesstransceiver 88 and/or the wired connection port 90. As an example,devices 10 may have a companion mobile application that interfaces withthe device 10.

Some bodies 12 of devices 10 are configured to be selectively coupled tothe nose 104, while other bodies 12 of devices 10 are configured to becoupled within the mouth 106 of a living individual 102, such as to atooth or teeth 120. Some bodies 12 of devices 10 are configured to beselectively coupled to a head 116 of a living individual 102, such aswith the body 12 being, forming a portion of, or being coupled oranchored to headwear or eyewear. Examples of headwear include a hat, avisor, a cap, and a headband. Examples of eyewear include eyeglasses andan eyewear frame.

The body 12 of devices 10 may be constructed, or composed, of anysuitable material or combination of materials. In some examples, thebody 12 is composed of, is at least partially composed of, or comprisesone or more of an antimicrobial material 52, a resilient material 16,and/or a material that is compatible with (i.e., will not damage orcause irritation to) tissue of a living individual 102. Accordingly, insome examples, not only does pathogen-deactivating mechanism 14deactivate pathogens passing through device 10, but also pathogens thatcome into contact with body 12 may be deactivated. That is, in someexamples, the body 12 itself may deactivate pathogens in addition to thepathogen-deactivating mechanism 14 deactivating pathogens. Anantimicrobial material 52 may be embedded in the body 12 of a device 10and/or may be applied to the exterior of the body 12 of a device 10.Examples of antimicrobial materials 52 include those composed of orhaving copper, copper alloys, silver, quaternary ammonium compounds,chlorhexidine incorporated hydroxyapatite coatings,chlorhexidine-containing polylactide coatings, polymer and calciumphosphate coatings with chlorhexidine, antibiotic coatings, antiviralsurfaces, and others. In some examples, a material or materials for body12 may be selected to facilitate a desired flexibility and/or resiliencefor operative coupling of the body 12 to a living individual 102, asdiscussed herein.

As schematically represented in FIG. 3 , in some examples of devices 10,the body 12 comprises a first body part 18 that is composed or otherwiseformed of a first resilient material 22, and a second body part 20 thatis at least partially embedded within the first body part 18 andcomposed or otherwise formed of a second resilient material 24. In somesuch examples, the second resilient material 24 has a spring constantgreater than the first resilient material, and thus the second body part20 may be described as constituting or defining a spring, or a leafspring.

In some examples, the body 12 is resiliently conformable amongst a rangeof conformations comprising at least a sprung conformation and a flexedconformation. Such a body 12 and/or a device 10 that includes such abody may be referred to as a resiliently conformable body 12 and/or aresiliently conformable device 10, respectively. In some suchembodiments, the body 12 may be biased toward the sprung conformation,such as by one or more springs or resilient portions of the device 10and/or the body 12 portion thereof. The sprung conformation mayadditionally or alternatively be described as a default conformation, anominal conformation, and/or a resting conformation, in that theinternal bias, or springiness, of the body 12 causes it to revert to, orat least toward, the sprung conformation when no external force isapplied on the body 12 against the internal bias thereof. The flexedconformation additionally or alternatively may be described as anenergized conformation, a stressed conformation, and/or a deflectedconformation, in that the spring of the body 12 is energized upon a userapplying an external force against the bias of the body 12. In someexamples, the flexed conformation may be a compressed conformation,while in other examples, the flexed conformation may be a tensionedconformation, for example, depending on how the body 12 is configured tobe operatively coupled to a living individual 102. The variousconformations described and/or illustrated herein additionally oralternatively may be referred to as configurations, states, and/orpositions without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

In some examples of devices 10 having a resiliently conformable body 12,the pathogen-deactivating mechanism 14 is configured to be automaticallyactivated when the body 12 is within a predetermined subset ofconformations of the range of conformations. For example, rather than,or in addition to, having a user-activated and/or externally accessibleon/off button or switch that is engaged and operated by a user, a device10 may be configured to automatically activate pathogen-deactivatingmechanism 14 when the body 12 has been manipulated by a user into acertain conformation or subset of conformations of the range ofconformations. For example, with reference to example devices 310, 302,and 304 of FIGS. 15-20 , discussed in greater detail below, when thebody 12 of example devices 310, 302, and 304 is compressed from thesprung conformation (FIGS. 15, 17, and 19 ) to or toward the flexedconformation (FIGS. 16, 18, and 20 ), such as when the device isinserted into a nostril 112 of a living individual 102, thepathogen-deactivating mechanism 14 automatically will be activated, suchas via an internal switch 53 within the body 12 of the device.Similarly, with reference to example devices 306, 308, 312, and 314 ofFIGS. 30-37 , also discussed in greater detail below, when the body 12of example devices 306, 308, 312, and 314 is tensioned, or expanded,from the sprung conformation (FIGS. 30, 32, 34, and 36 ) to or towardthe flexed conformation (FIGS. 31, 33, 35, and 37 ), such as when theexample devices 306, 308, and 314 are clipped to a septal region 108 ofa living individual 102 or when the example device 312 is clipped to awing 110 of a nose 104 of a living individual 102, thepathogen-deactivating mechanism(s) 14 automatically will be activated,such as via an internal switch 53 within the body 12 of the device 10.In some examples, the pathogen-deactivating mechanism 14 may beconfigured to be automatically activated when the body 12 is not in thesprung conformation. In other examples, the pathogen-deactivatingmechanism 14 may be configured to be automatically deactivated when thebody 12 is not in the flexed conformation. Such an optionalconfiguration of a device 10 facilitates conservation of the device'spower source 82, in that the device will only activate thepathogen-deactivating mechanism 14 when the body 12 is in a conformationcorresponding to being coupled to a living individual 102.

In some examples, devices 10 may utilize a mechanism other than, or inaddition to, a mechanical mechanism to couple at least thepathogen-deactivating mechanism 14 of the body 12 proximate to therespiratory tract inlet 100 of the living individual 102. As an example,device 10 may utilize an adhesive 40 or a magnetic assembly 33 tocouple, or operatively position, at least a portion of the device 10,such as the body 12 and/or the pathogen-deactivating mechanism 14thereof, proximate to the respiratory tract inlet of the livingindividual. As schematically represented in FIG. 8 , the magneticassembly 33 may include at least one magnet 34 configured to couple, andin some examples may include at least a pair of magnets 34 that areconfigured to be magnetically coupled, or retained, together to couple,at least the pathogen-deactivating mechanism 14 of the body 12 and/orthe device 10 proximate to the respiratory tract inlet 100 of the livingindividual 102. In some examples, the magnetic assembly 33 includes atleast one magnet 34 and a ferromagnetic element 36 that is configured tobe selectively positioned within a magnetic field of the at least onemagnet 34 to couple at least the pathogen-deactivating mechanism 14 ofthe body 12 and/or the device 10 proximate to the respiratory tractinlet 100 of the living individual 102. Ferromagnetic element 36 may bea magnetic material that is not permanently magnetized, such as aniron-containing material, although it is within the scope of the presentdisclosure that ferromagnetic element 36 also may be another magnet. Themagnet(s) 34 and/or ferromagnetic element 36 of the magnetic assembly 33are sized, selected, and/or configured to form a mating pair thatcreates a sufficient magnetic force, or magnetic attraction,therebetween to operatively couple the device 10, or correspondingportion thereof, proximate to the respiratory tract inlet 100 of theliving individual 102. Examples of suitable magnets 34 include discretemagnets, bar magnets, sheet magnets, correlated magnets (an orderedgroup of magnetic dipoles), or any suitable magnet configuration orassembly.

In some examples, the magnet(s) 34 and/or ferromagnetic element 36 maybe magnetically coupled together on opposed sides of a portion of theliving individual's nose 104, such as a wing 110 or septum thereof, tocouple at least the pathogen-deactivating mechanism 14 of the body 12and/or the device 10 proximate to the respiratory tract inlet 100 of theliving individual 102. In some examples, the device 10, or at least onepathogen-deactivating mechanism 14 thereof, is configured to beautomatically activated when the ferromagnetic element 36 is within athreshold distance from the magnet 34.

In some examples, each of a pair of devices 10 may comprise a magnet 34and/or a ferromagnetic element 36, with each of the pair beingconfigured for insertion into a single nostril 112, such that whenoperably positioned therein, the magnetic field of the magnet(s) 34 willencompass the septal region 108 of the living individual 102 and therebyattract the two devices together and against the living individual'sseptum.

As another example, device 10 may utilize an adhesive 40 to couple, oroperatively position, at least a portion of the device 10, such as thebody 12 and/or the pathogen-deactivating mechanism 14 thereof, proximateto the respiratory tract inlet of the living individual. The portion ofdevice 10 that is adhesively coupled by the adhesive 40 may be referredto as an adhesive surface 38 of the device 10. The adhesive surface 38thus may be sized, shaped, and/or otherwise configured to be selectivelyaffixed by the adhesive 40 proximate to the respiratory tract inlet 100of the living individual 102. The adhesive surface 38 may be configuredto receive an adhesive 40, such as which is applied thereto by theliving individual 102. Alternatively, the adhesive surface 38 mayinclude the adhesive 40 when the device is manufactured. As an example,the adhesive surface 38 may include the adhesive and a backing 42 thatis releasably coupled to the adhesive surface 38 and/or the adhesive 40and configured to be removed therefrom when the device 10 is beingaffixed proximate to the respiratory tract inlet 100 of the livingindividual 102.

As schematically represented in FIGS. 13 and 14 , some devices 10further comprise an anchor 48 that is configured to be secured to theliving individual's body, with the body 12 and the anchor 48 beingconfigured to be selectively, and typically removably, coupled togetherto position the body 12, including pathogen-deactivating mechanism 14thereof, proximate to the respiratory tract inlet 100 of the livingindividual 102. In some examples, the anchor 48 is clipped, mounted,inserted, implanted, or otherwise secured to a portion of the livingindividual's nose 104 or mouth 106. For example, an anchor 48 may besecured to a wing or septum of the living individual's nose or to atleast one tooth or orthodontic appliance in the living individual'smouth.

When device 10 includes an anchor 48, the anchor may be configured to bepermanently or semi-permanently secured to the portion of the livingindividual's body. For example, an anchor 48 may be or include a toothband that is secured around a tooth, an anchor that is adhesivelymounted to a tooth, and/or an orthodontic appliance that is adhesivelyor mechanically coupled to a tooth. As additional examples, an anchor 48may be a nasal anchor, such as a nasal piercing that extends through awing or septum of the living individual's nose or a nasal clip that iscoupled to the wing or septum of the living individual's nose. Inaddition to coupling the device 10 to the portion of the livingindividual's body, the anchor 48, when present, may be utilized toposition, support, or otherwise orient the device 10, such as thepathogen-deactivating mechanism 14 portion thereof, in a desiredorientation for deactivating pathogens during operative use of thedevice 10.

When the living individual 102 desires to utilize the device 10 todeactivate pathogens, the body 12 of the device 10 may be selectivelycoupled to the anchor. When the living individual is not utilizing thedevice 10 to deactivate pathogens, the body 12 of the device 10 may bedetached, or uncoupled, from the anchor. In some examples, the anchor 48and/or the body 12 may be configured and/or constructed to permitrepeated coupling and uncoupling of the body 12 and the anchor 48without destruction or damage to either the anchor 48 or the body 12.When the device 10 includes an anchor 48, any suitable couplingmechanism 49 may be utilized to selectively couple the anchor to thebody. Examples include adhesive coupling mechanisms, magnetic couplingmechanisms, and mechanical coupling mechanisms, such as are otherwisedescribed herein.

As used herein, “semi-permanently,” when used to describe a connectionor coupling between elements, is intended to refer to elements that arenot configured to be readily separated or uncoupled, but which may beseparated or uncoupled without destruction of or damage to the elements.Thus, elements that are semi-permanently secured together may be damagedor may require precise movement, manipulation, or tools to separate oruncouple, whereas elements that are removably coupled together may beconfigured to be repeatedly coupled and uncoupled without destruction ofor damage to the elements. Furthermore, and as used herein,“permanently,” when used to describe a connection or coupling betweenelements, is intended to refer to elements that are not configured to beseparated or uncoupled without destruction of or damage to one or bothof the elements or the coupling mechanism utilized to permanently securethe elements together.

When device 10 includes an anchor 48, the device 10 optionally mayinclude a tether 50 that physically interconnects the anchor 48 and thebody 12 so that the body 12 is physically retained proximate the anchoreven if the body 12 is uncoupled from the living individual's body. Thetether 50, when present, thus may prevent loss of the body 12 of thedevice, such as if the body 12 is inadvertently uncoupled from theliving individual's body. It follows that the tether 50 thus may bedescribed as defining a maximum distance or range of movement of thebody 12 relative to the anchor 48. Examples of a suitable tether includea wire, a chain, a string, or a lanyard. The tether 50, when present,may be formed from a flexible and/or elastomeric material that permitsrelative movement of the body 12 relative to the anchor 48 when the body12 is uncoupled from the anchor 48.

As mentioned, some bodies 12 of devices 10 are configured to beselectively coupled to a nose 104 of a living individual 102. Suchdevices 10 may be described as nose-mounted devices 300, and FIGS. 15-41provide examples thereof.

Some nose-mounted devices 300 are configured to pinch a portion of anose 104, such as the septal region 108 or wing 110 thereof. Exampledevices 306, 308, 312, 314, and 350 illustrated in FIGS. 30-41 areexamples of such devices 300. In such examples, the flexed conformationis a tensioned conformation, with the body 12 being configured to beselectively expanded toward the flexed conformation responsive to anexternal force on the body 12. For example, the body 12 may comprise twoend regions 26 that are closer together when the body 12 is in thesprung conformation (e.g., FIGS. 30, 32, 34, and 36 ) than in the flexedconformation (e.g., FIGS. 31, 33, 35, and 37 ), and with the two endregions being configured to engage opposite sides of a portion of a nose104 (e.g., opposed sides of the septum or opposed sides of a wing of thenose) of a living individual 102, thereby pinching the portion of thenose to operatively retain the device 300 thereon. In some examples,when the body 12 is in the sprung conformation, the two end regions 26engage each other, and in some such examples, such positioning of thetwo end regions 26 is configured to cause the pathogen-deactivatingmechanism 14 to be turned off, or deactivated.

Other nose-mounted devices 300 are configured to expand within a nostril112 of a living individual 102. Example devices 302, 304, and 310illustrated in FIGS. 15-20 are examples of such devices 300. In suchexamples, the flexed conformation is a compressed conformation, with thebody 12 being configured to be selectively compressed toward the flexedconformation responsive to an external force on the body 12. Forexample, in some examples, the body 12 may be described as having anoutermost, or external, dimension 30 that is greatest when the body 12is in the sprung conformation and that is reduced when the body 12 iscompressed to or toward the flexed conformation.

More specifically, in some examples, the body 12 is configured to beselectively compressed toward the flexed conformation (FIGS. 16, 18, and20 ) for insertion into a nostril 112 and released to expand toward thesprung conformation (FIGS. 15, 17, and 19 ) to engage inside surfaces ofthe nostril 112 and be retained at least partially within the nostril112. In some examples, the body 12 is sized to be positioned fullywithin a nostril 112. In some examples, a portion of the device 10, suchas portion of the body, a portion of light source 54, and/or a portionof a tether 50, may extend partially out of the nostril 112. In suchexamples this portion may facilitate removal of the device 10 from thenostril 112 and/or proper insertion of the device 10 into the nostril112 because this portion may be easier to grasp when the device 10 isinserted and positioned within the nostril 112 or removed from thenostril 112.

As discussed, in some examples of devices 10, including somenose-mounted devices 300, tooth-mounted devices 400, and head-mounteddevices 500, the body 12 at least partially defines a void 28 that isdefined at least in part by the body 12. In such examples, the body 12may be described as having a longitudinal axis 32, such as generallycorresponding to the direction of air flow through the void 28 when sucha device 10 is operatively worn by a living individual 102. In some suchexamples, when the body 12 is composed at least in part of a resilientmaterial 16, the body 12 may be configured to be selectively squeezedtoward the longitudinal axis 32 to conform the body 12 toward the flexedconformation. Example devices 302, 304, and 310 (FIGS. 15-20 ) areexamples of such nose-mounted devices 300. In such examples, a usersqueezes the body 12 to conform it into a size and shape for operativeinsertion into a nostril 112, and upon releasing the body 12, the bodywill return toward the sprung conformation to operatively engage theinside surface of the nostril for retention therein. In some examples,such as in example devices 310 and 302 (FIGS. 15-18 ), the body 12 fullycircumscribes the void 28. In other examples, such as in example device304 (FIGS. 19 and 20 ), the body 12 only partially circumscribes thevoid 28.

As used herein, the void 28 additionally or alternatively may bedescribed as an air passage 28, an air conduit 28, a flow passage 28,and/or a duct 28. In addition, the voids 28 that are described and/orillustrated herein may be at least partially, if not at leastsubstantially or even completely, defined by the device 10, such as thebody 12 thereof. In some examples, the void 28 may be surrounded by thebody 12, with the void 28 having openings on opposed ends of the body12. These openings thus may be inlets or outlets for air flowing throughthe void 28. In some examples, the void 28 extends into the body fromend regions and a side wall of the body. In such examples, the void 28may define openings on opposed end regions 72 of the body 12, as well asa lateral opening extending between the openings on the opposed endregions of the body. Such a lateral opening often will be at leastpartially closed during use of the device 10, such as when the body isconfigured to a flexed conformation and/or when a portion of the livingindividual's body, such as wing or septum of the individual's noseextends through the lateral opening. In some examples, the void 28 iscylindrical, substantially cylindrical, or generally cylindrical;however, any suitable shape of void 28 may be incorporated into a device10.

Some examples of bodies 12 of devices 10 are configured to mate with,extend into, or otherwise nest or nestle with a specific portion orportions of a living individual 102 for operative retention of thedevice 10 on the living individual 102. That is, the body 12 of a device10 may comprise one or more sub-portions 65 that is/are sized and/orshaped to mate with, extend into, or otherwise nest or nestle with aspecific portion of a living individual 102 for operative retention ofthe device 10 on the living individual 102. For example, thesub-portion(s) 65 may be configured to engage a portion of the livingindividual 102 to restrict gravity causing the device 10 to fall awayfrom, or out of, the living individual 102, such as a nostril 112thereof. Additionally or alternatively, the sub-portion(s) 65 may beconfigured to engage a portion of the living individual 102 to cause anopposite region of the body 12 to wedge or be urged against anotherportion of the living individual 102.

In some such examples, the sub-portion 65 comprises or defines aprojection 67, extending from an adjacent portion of the body 12. Insome such examples, the projection 67 is narrowed relative to anadjacent portion of the body 12. As an illustrative, non-exclusiveexample, a sub-portion 65, which optionally may be a projection 67, ofthe body 12 of a nose-mounted device 300 may be configured, sized,and/or shaped to engage a nasal vestibule (i.e., the area just insidethe nostril that leads into the nasal cavity) of a living individual 102donning the device 10. In more specific examples, a sub-portion 65,which optionally may be a projection 67, may be configured, sized,and/or shaped to engage the superior region of a nasal vestibule and tothereby wedge or urge the remainder of the body 12 against an insidesurface of the nostril 112. The example nose-mounted device 330 of FIGS.21-29 is an example of a nose-mounted device 300 whose body 12 comprisesa sub-portion 65 in the form of a projection 67 that is configured toengage a superior region of a nasal vestibule to urge the remainder ofthe body 12 against the inside surface of the nostril 112 to retain thedevice 10 within the nostril 112.

With reference to FIG. 12 and as mentioned, some bodies 12 of devices 10in the form of tooth-mounted air-treatment devices 400 according to thepresent disclosure are configured to be coupled to a tooth 120 of theliving individual 102 and thereby be operatively positioned todeactivate at least pathogens entering or being exhausted from theliving individual's respiratory tract via the living individual's mouth106. Tooth-mounted air-treatment devices 400 may be secured to anysuitable surface of the living individual's tooth, or teeth. Asexamples, and especially when device 400 includes apathogen-deactivating mechanism 14 that includes at least one LED 76 orother light source 54, the light source may be positioned to emit lightinto the living individual's oral cavity without being significantlyobstructed by the living individual's tongue. As examples, the devicemay be secured to a palatal surface of the living individual's tooth sothat the light source 54 emits light primarily in the palatal directionand/or toward the living individual's throat, as opposed to primarilyemitting light in a buccal or labial direction. Also, while atooth-mounted air-treatment device 400 may be coupled to any surface ofany of the living individual's teeth, a buccal surface of one or moreteeth of the living individual's maxilla (upper jaw) may be less likelyto be obstructed than a corresponding surface of a tooth of the livingindividual's mandible (lower jaw).

The body 12 of such a device 400 may be coupled to the tooth directly,such as with an adhesive 40, or the body 12 may be coupled to an anchor48 that is secured to the tooth. The anchor 48, when present, may beconfigured and/or installed to position the pathogen-deactivatingmechanism 14, such as the one or more light sources 54 thereof, todeactivate pathogens flowing through the living individual's mouth whilethe individual breathes, talks, etc. For example, the device 400, oranchor 48 thereof, may be or include a band 44 that is sized andconfigured to extend at least partially, and optionally fully, aroundthe tooth 120 of the living individual. As another example, the body 12of the device 10 and/or the anchor 48 may include or define a cavity 46that is sized to receive at least a portion of the tooth 120 to couplethe body 12 to the tooth 120.

An example of a device 10 in the form of a tooth-mounted air-treatmentdevice 400 that is coupled to an anchor 48 that is secured to the tooth120 is shown in FIG. 42 and generally indicated at 402. Anchor 48 mayhave any suitable shape or construction and may be secured to the tooth120 via any suitable mechanism, such as with an adhesive or a mechanicalfastener, such as a screw, or clip. Anchor 48 in turn may be configuredto be permanently or semi-permanently coupled to device 402. Morespecific examples of permanently coupled anchors 48 include anchors thatare integrally formed with device 402, welded to device 402 and/orbonded to device 402. In contract, examples of semi-permanently coupledanchors 48 include anchors that are threadingly coupled to device 402,magnetically coupled to device 402, and/or coupled to device 402 with afriction fit, clip, or other releasable mechanical fastening mechanism.

An example of a device 10 in the form of a tooth-mounted air-treatmentdevice 400 with an anchor 48 in the form of a band 44 is shown in FIG.43 and generally indicated at 404. The band 44 may be permanently orsemi-permanently coupled to the device, such as in the manners describedabove with respect to the anchor 48.

A potential benefit of permanently coupled devices 404 is that they arenot likely to be dislodged or repositioned after being secured to theindividual's tooth. A potential benefit of selectively coupled devices404 is that the device may be selectively removed from the tooth (andthe individual's mouth), such as during periods in which the device isnot being used, or when the device needs to be recharged, have itsbattery replaced, or undergo maintenance. When device 404 is permanentlycoupled to the band 44 and/or the anchor 48, the device and thecorresponding band and/or anchor may be installed and oriented on thetooth by an orthodontist, dentist, or other suitably trainedpractitioner. When device 404 is selectively coupled to the band and/orthe anchor, the band and/or the anchor may be installed and oriented onthe tooth by an orthodontist, dentist, or other suitably trainedpractitioner, and the living individual may selectively couple thedevice 404 during periods in which the device is to be used.

FIGS. 44-47 provide additional examples of tooth-mounted air-treatmentdevices 404 according to the present disclosure and are indicatedgenerally at 406. As discussed, it is within the scope of the presentdisclosure that the features, configurations, components, properties,etc. of the examples of devices 406 of FIGS. 44-47 may be utilized withother devices 400 and 10 according to the present disclosure, and thatthe example devices 406 of FIGS. 44-47 may include any of the features,configurations, components, properties, etc. of the other devices 400and/or 10 disclosed herein.

In FIGS. 44-47 , tooth-mounted air-treatment device 406 takes the formof a tooth-mounted air-treatment device 404 that includes a band 44 thatis configured to extend around a tooth of a living individual. In otherwords, the device 406 defines a cavity 46 through which a tooth of aliving individual extends. As schematically indicated in FIGS. 45 and 47, devices 406 optionally may include a conformance layer 420 on at leastone tooth-facing surface 422 of the device's body 12, includingsub-portions 65 thereof. Conformance layer 420 may include and/or beformed from a resiliently compressible material that assists device 406to conform and be securely coupled to the living individual's tooth.Examples of such a material include silicone and a closed-cell foam,although others may be used and are within the scope of the presentdisclosure.

As illustrated in FIGS. 44-47 , device 406 includes a body 12 having apair of sub-portions 65 that are secured on generally opposed surfacesof the living individual's tooth by band 44, which may be a flexibleand/or adjustable band. The illustrated sub-portions 65 include adeactivating sub-portion 410 that contains the pathogen-deactivatingmechanism 14, including at least one LED 76 or other light source 54.The illustrated sub-portions 65 also include a control sub-portion 412that contains the device's controller 85 and user control 86, with theillustrated example of the user-control being an on/off switch. In suchan example, the battery 84 or other power source 82 of the device may becontained in either sub-portion 65, with the example of FIGS. 44-46indicating the power source being contained in deactivating sub-portion410. Power and control signals may be transmitted between thesub-portions 65 by any suitable type and numbers of wires or otherelectrical conduits 414 that extend through the band. The wires or otherelectrical conduits 414 thus may be described as establishing electricalcommunication between the first and second sub-portions 65 of the body12 and/or of the electrical components of the device 406 containedtherein.

FIG. 47 demonstrates that all devices 400, 404, and/or 406 are notrequired to include a body 12 with a pair of sub-portions 65, with FIG.47 illustrating a device 406 in which the pathogen-deactivatingmechanism 14, controller 85, and user control 86 are all present in asingle body portion. The example of FIG. 47 also schematicallyillustrates that it is within the scope of the present disclosure thatthe band 44 of a device 10, including devices 400, 404, and/or 406, maybe selectively adjustable, such as to permit the length of the band tobe lengthened, shortened, or otherwise adjusted during coupling of thedevice to the tooth or other portion of the living individual's body. InFIG. 47 , band 44 is shown optionally including a free end 424 that maybe selectively urged away from body 12 to shorten the length of the band44 and thus reduce the size of the cavity 46 defined thereby.

As mentioned, some bodies 12 of devices 10 are configured to beselectively coupled to the head 116 of a living individual 102. Suchdevices 10 may be referred to herein as head-mounted devices 500. Insuch examples, the body 12 may comprise a head mount 98 that isconfigured to be selectively and operatively coupled to a user's head116, and a support 99 that extends from the head mount 98, with thepathogen-deactivating mechanism 14 at least partially supported by thesupport 99. In some such examples, the pathogen-deactivating mechanism14 comprises at least one light source 54, such as an LED 76, supportedby the support 99 and configured to emit light within a germicidalspectrum. As examples, and as discussed in more detail herein, examplesof head mount 98 include headwear, such as a hat, cap, visor, orheadband, or eyewear, such as eyeglasses, or at least an eyewear frame.

Turning now to FIGS. 15 and 16 , example device 310 is an example of anose-mounted device 300 that is configured to be inserted into andretained within a nostril 112 of the living individual 102. The body 12of device 310 comprises a resilient material 16 and is configured to becompressed from a sprung conformation (FIG. 15 ) to or toward a flexedconformation (FIG. 16 ) for operative insertion into a nostril 112. Body12 may be constructed with first and second body parts 18 and 20, suchas according to the cross-sectional representation of FIG. 3 , with thesecond body part 20 defining a spring. Once operatively positionedwithin a nostril 112, release of the compressive force on the body 12causes the body 12 to spring back toward the sprung conformation (FIG.15 ), so that the body 12 engages the inside surface of the nostril 112in a friction-fit arrangement to be retained within the nostril 112.Body 12 of device 310 defines and fully circumscribes a void 28. Thebody 12 supports a pathogen-deactivating mechanism 14 that comprises anLED 76 that, when activated, emits light within the void 28 todeactivate pathogens as air passes through the void 28 as a result of auser breathing.

Example device 302 is illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 18 . Similar to device310, device 302 is an example of a nose-mounted device 300 that isconfigured to be inserted into and retained within a nostril 112. Thebody 12 of device 302 comprises a resilient material 16 and isconfigured to be compressed from a sprung conformation (FIG. 17 ) to ortoward a flexed conformation (FIG. 18 ) for operative insertion into anostril 112. As illustrated, the body 12 of device 302 may comprise ordefine one or more spring regions 320 that are configured to becompressed upon a user engaging and compressing opposing sides of thebody toward each other. These spring region(s) 320 may be defined by acorrugated span of resilient material 16, for example, and/or aninternal spring, such as a second body part 20 (FIG. 3 ) may be providedwithin the spring region(s) 320 to bias the body toward the sprungconformation (FIG. 17 ). Once operatively positioned within a nostril112, release of the compressive force on the body 12 causes the body 12to spring back toward the sprung conformation (FIG. 17 ) so that thebody 12 engages the inside surface of the nostril 112 in a friction-fitarrangement to be retained within the nostril 112. Body 12 of device 302defines and fully circumscribes a void 28. The body 12 supports apathogen-deactivating mechanism 14 that comprises an LED 76 that, whenactivated, emits light within the void 28 to deactivate pathogens as airpasses through the void 28 as a result of a user breathing. Device 302may comprise an internal switch 53 configured to automatically activatethe pathogen-deactivating mechanism 14 upon the body 12 being compressedaway from the sprung conformation. Accordingly, when a user compressesthe body 12 for insertion into a nostril 112, the pathogen-deactivatingmechanism 14 will be activated, and when the body 12 is retained awayfrom the sprung conformation as a result of engagement with the insideof the nostril 112, the pathogen-deactivating mechanism will continue tobe activated.

Example device 304 is illustrated in FIGS. 19 and 20 . Similar todevices 310 and 302, device 304 is an example of a nose-mounted device300 that is configured to be inserted into and retained within a nostril112. The body 12 of device 304 comprises a resilient material 16 and isconfigured to be compressed from a sprung conformation (FIG. 19 ) to ortoward a flexed conformation (FIG. 20 ) for operative insertion into anostril 112. As illustrated, the body 12 of device 304 is configured tobe compressed upon a user engaging and compressing opposing sides of thebody 12 toward each other. Once operatively positioned within a nostril112, release of the compressive force on the body 12 causes the body 12to spring back toward the sprung conformation (FIG. 19 ) so that thebody 12 engages the inside surface of the nostril 112 in a friction-fitarrangement to be retained within the nostril 112. Body 12 of device 302defines and only partially circumscribes a void 28 when the body is inthe sprung conformation. The body 12 supports a pathogen-deactivatingmechanism 14 that comprises an LED 76 that, when activated, emits lightwithin the void 28 to deactivate pathogens as air passes through thevoid 28 as a result of a user breathing. Device 302 may comprise aninternal switch 53 configured to automatically activate thepathogen-deactivating mechanism 14 upon the body 12 being compressedaway from the sprung conformation. Accordingly, when a user compressesthe body 12 for insertion into a nostril 112, the pathogen-deactivatingmechanism 14 will be activated, and when the body 12 is retained awayfrom the sprung conformation as a result of engagement with the insideof the nostril 112, the pathogen-deactivating mechanism will continue tobe activated.

Example device 330 is illustrated in FIGS. 21-29 . Device 330 is anotherexample of a nose-mounted device 300 that is configured to be insertedinto and retained within a nostril 112 of the living individual 102. Thebody 12 of device 330 comprises a projection 67 that is configured toengage the superior region of as nasal vestibule and to wedge or urgethe body 12 against an inside, opposite surface of the nostril 112.

The body 12 of device 330 defines an open void 28 and a plurality ofbaffles 63 extending into the void 28. The baffles 63 of device 330 arearcuate in shape and extend from opposing sides of the void 28 to createor otherwise define a central channel region 332, but otherconfigurations of baffles 63 are within the scope of the presentdisclosure. The body 12 of device 330 defines a first opening 334 to thevoid 28, adjacent to the projection 67, and a second opening 336 to thevoid, opposite the projection 67, with the central channel region 332extending between the first opening 334 and the second opening 336.

Each of the first opening 334 and the second opening 336 are defined inpart by a flared region 338, 339 of the body 12. These flared regions338, 339 when present, may aid in making the device 330 more comfortablewithin the nostril and also may facilitate airflow through the void 28when the living individual 102 is breathing. In particular, flaredregion 338, adjacent to first opening 334, is configured to nestleagainst the inferior side of the opening of the user's nostril when thedevice 330 is operatively installed. In some examples, a flared regionmay be constructed of a resilient, flexible, and/or soft materialconfigured to generally conform to the shape of the portion of theliving individual 102 against which it is positioned when the device 330is donned or to otherwise provide for a comfortable fit of the device330. Additionally or alternatively, the flared regions 338, 339 or otherportions of the body 12 of device 330 may be repositionable relative toother portions of the body 12, such as to permit a user to selectivelyadjust the position of the flared regions 338, 339 relative to theprojection 67. For example, the portion of the body 12 comprising theflared regions 338, 339 may be rotatable relative to the portion of thebody 12 comprising the projection 67, so that a user may configure thedevice 330 in a manner that is most comfortable and fitting to theparticular user's anatomy.

The body 12 of device 330 supports a pathogen-deactivating mechanism 14that comprises an LED 76 that, when activated, emits light within thevoid 28 to deactivate pathogens as air passes through the void 28 as aresult of a user breathing. Device 330 further comprises a user control86 in the form of an on/off switch 340, and a power source 82 in theform of a battery 84.

Example device 306 is illustrated in FIGS. 30 and 31 . Device 306 is anexample of a nose-mounted device 300 that is configured to pinch theseptal region 108 of a nose and emit light into both nostrils 112 of aliving individual 102. The body 12 of device 306 may be described ascomprising two arms 322 and a bridge 324 interconnecting the arms 322and collectively defining a C- or U-shape, generally. Body 12 of device306 comprises a resilient material 16 and is configured to be tensionedfrom a sprung conformation (FIG. 30 ) to or toward a flexed conformation(FIG. 31 ) for operative placement of the arms 322 on opposing sides ofa septal region 108 of a nose 104. Body 12 may be constructed with firstand second body parts 18 and 20, such as according to thecross-sectional representation of FIG. 3 , with the second body part 20defining a spring. Once operatively positioned with the arms 322 onopposing sides of a septal region 108, release of the tensile force onthe body 12 causes the body to spring back toward the sprungconformation (FIG. 30 ), so that the arms 322 engage the opposing sidesof the septal region 108 in a pinching configuration to be retained onthe nose 104. The body 12 supports two pathogen-deactivating mechanisms14 that each comprise an LED 76 that, when activated, emits light withinrespective nostrils 112 to deactivate pathogens as air passes throughthe nostrils 112 as a result of a user breathing. Device 306 maycomprise an internal switch 53 configured to automatically activate thepathogen-deactivating mechanisms 14 upon the body 12 being tensionedaway from the sprung conformation. Accordingly, when a user tensions thebody 12 for placement of the arms 322 within the user's nostrils 112,the pathogen-deactivating mechanisms 14 will be activated, and when thebody 12 is retained away from the sprung conformation as a result of thethickness of the septal region 108 restricting the body 12 fromreturning fully to the sprung conformation, the pathogen-deactivatingmechanisms 14 will continue to be activated.

Example device 308 is illustrated in FIGS. 32 and 33 . Device 308 is anexample of a nose-mounted device 300 similar to device 306 for operativeretention on a septal region 108 of a nose 104, but with the arms 322 ofthe body 12 defining and fully circumscribing two voids 28, within eachof which an LED 76 is supported. The inward surfaces 64 of the body 12may be reflective as discussed herein to concentrate the light emittedby the LEDs 76.

Example device 314 is illustrated in FIGS. 36 and 37 . Device 314 is anexample of a nose-mounted device 300 similar to device 306 for operativeretention on a septal region 108 of a nose 104, but further comprisingadditional LEDs 76 supported along the bridge 324 of the body 12 andconfigured to emit light downward from a user's nose 104 in front of theuser's mouth 106, so that device 314 not only deactivates pathogensentering and exiting the nose 104 but also deactivates pathogensentering and exiting the mouth 106 as a user breathes. As schematicallyrepresented in FIG. 36 , body 12 of device 308 may further comprise ordefine additional structure 59 that is configured to direct lightemitted by the bridge-mounted LEDs 76 as a curtain 55 of light in frontof a user's mouth 106.

Example device 350 is illustrated in FIGS. 38-41 . Device 350 is anotherexample of a nose-mounted device 300 similar to device 306 for operativeretention on a septal region 108 of a nose 104. Like device 306, thebody 12 of device 350 comprises two arms 322 and a bridge 324 thatinterconnects the arms 322. The body 12 supports twopathogen-deactivating mechanisms 14 that each comprise an LED 76 that,when activated, emits light within respective nostrils 112 to deactivatepathogens as air passes through the nostrils 112 as a result of a userbreathing. Device 350 comprises user controls 86 in the form of anon/off switch 352 corresponding to each LED 76. The bridge 324 houses abattery 84.

Example device 312 is illustrated in FIGS. 34 and 35 . Device 312 isanother example of a nose-mounted device 300 that is configured tooperatively position an LED 76 within a nostril 112 similar to devices306, 308, and 314; however, device 312 only has a pathogen-deactivatingmechanism 14 on one of its two arms 322. Accordingly, device 312 isconfigured to be operatively retained on a wing 110 of a user's nose 104and is intended to be used in a pair of devices 312, with one device 312on each wing 110 of a user's nose 104.

FIGS. 42 and 43 provide examples of tooth-mounted devices 400 that areconfigured to be secured to a tooth 120 of the living individual 102. InFIG. 42 , an example tooth-mounted device 402 is shown and includes ananchor 48 that is secured, such as adhesively secured, to the tooth 120of the living individual. Anchor 48 may be, form a portion of, or besecured to an orthodontic appliance 148, such as an orthodontic bracket.

In FIG. 43 , an example tooth-mounted device 404 is shown and includes aband 44 that is sized to extend at least partially, and optionallyfully, around the tooth 120. The body 12 of the device is removably,semi-permanently, or permanently secured to the band 44. The band 44 maybe described as forming a portion of the device 10 and/or as an anchor48 to which at least the body 12 and/or pathogen-deactivating mechanism14 thereof is operatively coupled and positioned to deactivate pathogensin the living individual's mouth, such as when the user inhales orexhales through the living individual's mouth.

An example of a tooth 120 is a molar or other tooth that extends fromthe maxilla of the living individual's mouth, but any maxillary ormandibular tooth may be utilized within the scope of the presentdisclosure. In the examples of FIGS. 42 and 43 , it is within the scopeof the present disclosure that at least pathogen-deactivating mechanism14 and optionally the body 12 of the device may be removably,semi-permanently, or permanently secured to the tooth 120, the band 44,the orthodontic appliance 148, and/or the anchor 48.

In FIG. 48 , example device 502 is an example of a head-mounted device500, namely, a device 10 that is configured to be mounted to the head116 of the living individual 102. Example device 502 is an example of ahead-mounted device 500 in which the body 12 is, forms a portion of, oris coupled to a cap 503. More specifically, the cap 503 comprises a headmount 98 that secures the device to the living individual's head, and asupport 99 that extends from the head mount and at least partiallysupports at least the pathogen-deactivating mechanism 14 of the body 12of the device. In the illustrated example, the support 99 is in the forma bill 504 of the cap 503. The body 12 of the device 10 may beintegrated into the bill 504, may form at least a portion of the bill504, or may be removably, semi-permanently, or permanently coupled tothe bill 504. As illustrated, the bill 504 and/or body 12 supports atleast one light source 54 (and optionally a plurality of light sources,such as LEDs 76) and optionally at least one structure 59 for directinglight from the LEDs 76 as a curtain 55 of light in front of a user'sface, so that air being breathed by the user, whether via the user'snose or mouth, will pass through the curtain 55 of light.

In FIG. 49 , example device 506 is another example of a head-mounteddevice 500. In this example, the head mount 98 is eyewear 160, or atleast a frame 162 portion thereof. Eyewear 160 additionally oralternatively may be or may be referred to as eyeglasses 160, sunglasses160, non-prescription eyewear 160, and/or prescription eyewear 160. Thebody 12 of device 506 may be, may form a portion of, or may be coupledto the frame 162 of the eyewear 160. As illustrated, the frame 162and/or body 12 supports at least one light source 54 (and optionally aplurality of light sources, such as LEDs 76) and optionally a structure59 for directing light from the LEDs 76 as a curtain 55 of light infront of a user's face, so that air being breathed by the user, whethervia the user's nose or mouth, will pass through the curtain 55 of light.

FIGS. 50-52 schematically represent example electronics (e.g.,controllers 85) of devices 10 for powering and controlling thepathogen-deactivating mechanism 14 thereof, such as a light source 54 inthe form of an LED 76 or an electroceutical fabric 78 or other structurethat creates an electric field 77, as discussed herein. Exampleelectronics 600 of FIG. 50 comprises a simple circuit having a powersource 82, an optional user control 86 in the form of an on/off switch606, which optionally may be an internal switch 53, and an optionalresister 608. Example electronics 602 of FIG. 51 further comprises acontroller 85, such as a microcontroller, and a charging port 66.Example electronics 604 of FIG. 52 further comprises a wirelesstransceiver 88, an external trigger or sensor 610, which optionally maybe described as a user control 86, and an audible indicator 94 in theform of a speaker 612.

FIG. 53 schematically provides a flowchart that represents illustrative,non-exclusive examples of methods 200 according to the presentdisclosure and/or uses of devices 10 according to the present disclosureto deactivate pathogens entering and/or exiting the respiratory tractinlet 100 of the living individual 102. In FIG. 53 , some steps areillustrated in dashed boxes indicating that such steps may be optionalor may correspond to an optional version of a method according to thepresent disclosure. The methods 200 and steps illustrated in FIG. 53 arenot limiting and other methods and steps are within the scope of thepresent disclosure, including methods 200 having greater than or fewerthan the number of steps illustrated, as understood from the discussionsherein.

Methods 200 comprise deactivating 202 pathogens proximate a respiratorytract inlet 100 of a living individual 102. In some methods 200, thedeactivating 202 comprises emitting 204 light within a germicidalspectrum proximate to the respiratory tract inlet 100 of the livingindividual 102. In some such methods 200, the emitting 204 comprisesemitting light within a nostril 112 of a nose 104 of the livingindividual 102. In some methods 200, the emitting 204 comprises emittinglight within a mouth 106 of the living individual 102. In some suchmethods 200, the emitting 204 comprises emitting a curtain 55 of lightproximate to a nasal cavity 114 and/or a mouth 106 of the livingindividual 102. In some methods 200, the deactivating 202 comprisesgenerating 206 an electric field 77, through which air flows proximateto the respiratory tract inlet 100 of the living individual 102 when theliving individual 102 breathes. Some methods 200 are performed by abody-worn air-treatment device 10 according to the present disclosure.

Illustrative, non-exclusive examples of body-worn air-treatment devices,uses thereof, and methods of deactivating pathogens according to thepresent disclosure are described in the following enumerated paragraphs:

A. A body-worn air-treatment device (10), comprising:

a body (12) configured to be selectively coupled proximate a respiratorytract inlet (100) of a living individual (102); and

a pathogen-deactivating mechanism (14) supported by the body (12).

A1. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of paragraph A, wherein thebody (12) is configured to be selectively coupled to a nose (104) of theliving individual (102).

A2. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of paragraph A, wherein thebody (12) is configured to be selectively coupled to a tooth (120) ofthe living individual (102).

A2.1. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of paragraph A2, whereinthe body (12) is configured to be coupled to a palatal surface of thetooth (120) of the living individual (102).

A2.2. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of any ofparagraphs A2-A2.1, wherein the body (12) is configured to be coupled toa tooth (120) of an upper jaw of the living individual (102).

A2.3. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA2-A2.2, wherein the body (12) includes a band (44) that extends aroundthe tooth (120).

A2.3.1. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of paragraph A2.3,wherein the band (44) and the body (12) collectively define a cavity(46) sized to receive the tooth (120) of the living individual (102)therein.

A2.3.2. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA2.3-A2.3.1, wherein the band (44) has a length that is selectivelyadjustable.

A2.4. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA2-A2.3.2, wherein the body (12) includes a first sub-portion (65) thatis coupled to a first surface of the tooth (120) and a secondsub-portion (65) that is coupled to a second surface of the tooth (120),with the first and second surfaces of the tooth (120) being generallyopposed to each other.

A2.5. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of paragraph A2.4, whereina/the band (44) interconnects the first and second sub-portions (65).

A2.6. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA2.4-A2.5, wherein a/the band (44) includes wires (414) that establishelectrical communication between the first sub-portion (65) and thesecond sub-portion (65).

A2.7. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA2-A2.6, wherein the body (12) includes a conformance layer (420) on atooth-facing surface (422) of the body (12), and wherein the conformancelayer (420) is formed from a resiliently compressible material.

A3. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphs A-A2.7,wherein the body (12) comprises a resilient material (16).

A4. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphs A-A3,wherein the body (12) is composed of a material that is compatible withtissue of the living individual (102).

A5. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphs A-A4,wherein the body (12) comprises a first body part (18) composed of afirst resilient material (22) and a second body part (20) at leastpartially embedded within the first body part (18) and composed of asecond resilient material (24), and wherein the second resilientmaterial (24) has a spring constant greater than a spring constant ofthe first resilient material (22).

A6. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphs A-A5,wherein the body (12) is resiliently conformable amongst a range ofconformations comprising a sprung conformation and a flexedconformation, wherein the body (12) is biased toward the sprungconformation.

A6.1. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of paragraph A6, whereinthe at least one pathogen-deactivating mechanism (14) is configured tobe automatically activated when the body (12) is within a predeterminedsubset of conformations of the range of conformations.

A6.1.1. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of paragraph A6.1,wherein the predetermined subset of conformations includes the sprungconformation.

A6.1.2. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of paragraph A6.1,wherein the predetermined subset of conformations includes the flexedconformation.

A6.2. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA6-A6.1.2, wherein the at least one pathogen-deactivating mechanism (14)is configured to be automatically activated when the body (12) is not inthe sprung conformation.

A6.3. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA6-A6.1.2, wherein the at least one pathogen-deactivating mechanism (14)is configured to be automatically activated when the body (12) is not inthe flexed conformation.

A6.4. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA6-A6.3, wherein the flexed conformation is a tensioned conformation.

A6.5. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA6-A6.4, wherein the body (12) is configured to selectively pinch aportion of a/the nose (104) of the living individual (102).

A6.6. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA6-A6.5, wherein the body (12) is configured to selectively engageopposite sides of a/the portion of a/the nose (104) of the livingindividual (102).

A6.6.1. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of paragraph A6.6,wherein the portion of the nose (104) is one of a septal region (108) ofthe nose (104) or a wing (110) of the nose (104).

A6.7 The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA6-A6.6.1, wherein the body (12) is configured to be selectivelyexpanded toward the flexed conformation responsive to an external forceon the body (12).

A6.8. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA6-A6.7, wherein the body (12) comprises two end regions (26), whereinthe two end regions (26) are closer together when the body (12) is inthe sprung conformation than in the flexed conformation, and wherein thetwo end regions (26) are configured to engage opposite sides of a/theportion of a/the nose (104) of the living individual (102).

A6.8.1. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of paragraph A6.8,wherein in the sprung conformation, the two end regions (26) engage eachother.

A6.9. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA6-A6.3, wherein the flexed conformation is a compressed conformation.

A6.10. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA6-A6.3 and A6.9, wherein the body (12) has an outermost/externaldimension (30) that is greatest when the body (12) is in the sprungconformation.

A6.11. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA6-A6.3 and A6.9-A6.10, wherein the body (12) is configured to beselectively compressed toward the flexed conformation responsive to anexternal force on the body (12).

A6.12. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA6-A6.3 and A6.9-A6.11, wherein the body (12) is configured to beselectively compressed toward the flexed conformation for insertion intoa nostril (112) of the nose (104) and released to expand toward thesprung conformation to engage inside surfaces of the nostril (112) andbe retained at least partially within the nostril (112).

A6.13. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA6-A6.3 and A6.9-A6.12, wherein the body (12) is sized to be positionedfully within the nostril (112).

A6.14. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA6-A6.3 and A6.9-A6.13, wherein the body (12) at least partially definesa void (28) that is and/or extends inward, optionally radially inward,from an exterior, or exterior surface, of the body (12).

A6.14.1. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of paragraph A6.14,wherein the body (12) has a longitudinal axis (32) extending through thevoid (28), and wherein the body (12) is configured to be selectivelysqueezed toward the longitudinal axis (32) to conform the body (12)toward the flexed conformation.

A6.14.2. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA6.14-A6.14.1, wherein the body (12) fully circumscribes the void (28).

A6.14.3. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA6.14-A6.14.1, wherein the body (12) only partially circumscribes thevoid (28).

A6.14.4. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA6.14-A6.14.3, wherein the void (28) is cylindrical, substantiallycylindrical, or generally cylindrical.

A6.14.5. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA6.14-A6.14.4, wherein the void (28) includes first and second spacedend regions (72), which optionally are first and second longitudinallyspaced end regions (72).

A6.14.6. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of paragraph A6.14.5,wherein the void (28) extends into the body (12) from the end regions(72) and a side wall of the body.

A6.14.7. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of paragraph A6.14.6,wherein the void (28) defines openings on the end regions (72) of thebody (12), and further wherein the void (28) defines a lateral openingextending between the openings on the end regions (72) of the body (12).

A6.14.8. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of paragraph A6.14.7,wherein the lateral opening is configured to be at least partiallyclosed during use of the device (10) to deactivate pathogens, andoptionally wherein the lateral opening is configured to be at leastpartially closed by a portion of the living individual's body during useof the device (10) to deactivate pathogens.

A7. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA-A6.14.8 wherein the body (12) comprises a magnetic assembly (33) foroperatively positioning the at least one pathogen-deactivating mechanism(14) of the device (10) proximate to the respiratory tract inlet (100)of the living individual (102).

A7.1. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of paragraph A7, whereinthe magnetic assembly (33) comprises at least one magnet (34), andoptionally at least two magnets (34).

A7.2. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA7-A7.1, wherein the magnetic assembly (33) comprises at least onemagnet (34) and a ferromagnetic element (36) configured to beselectively positioned within a magnetic field of the magnet (34).

A7.3. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of paragraph A7.2, whereinthe at least one magnet (34) and the ferromagnetic element (36) areconfigured to position the body (12) on opposing sides of a portion,optionally of a/the nose (104), of the living individual (102).

A7.4. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA7.2-A7.3, wherein the at least one pathogen-deactivating mechanism (14)is configured to be automatically activated when the ferromagneticelement (36) is within a threshold distance from the magnet (34).

A7.5. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA7.2-A7.4, wherein the ferromagnetic element (36) is a second magnet.

A8. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphs A-A7.5,wherein the body (12) comprises an adhesive surface (38) configured tobe selectively affixed proximate to the respiratory tract inlet (100) ofthe living individual (102).

A8.1. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of paragraph A8, whereinthe adhesive surface (38) is composed of an adhesive (40) that iscompatible with human tissue.

A8.2. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA8-A8.1, further comprising a backing (42) releasably coupled to theadhesive surface (38).

A9. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphs A-A6.4and A7-A8.2, wherein the body (12) is configured to be selectivelycoupled to a/the tooth (120) of the living individual (102).

A9.1. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of paragraph A9, whereinthe body (12) includes a/the band (44) sized to extend at leastpartially, and optionally fully, around the tooth (120).

A9.2. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA9-A9.1, wherein the body (12) defines a/the cavity (46) sized toreceive at least a portion of the tooth (120) to couple the body (12) tothe tooth (120).

A9.3. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA9-A9.2, wherein the body (12) comprises a/the magnet (34) configured tocouple the body (12) relative to the tooth (120), optionally to a/theband (44) sized to extend at least partially, and optionally fully,around the tooth (120), or to an anchor (48) configured to be secured tothe tooth (120).

A10. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA-A9.3, further comprising an/the anchor (48) configured to be securedto at least one of a/the tooth (120) or a/the nose (104) of the livingindividual (102), and wherein the body (12) is configured to beremovably coupled to the anchor (48).

A10.1. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of paragraph A10, whereinthe anchor (48) comprises at least one of an orthodontic appliance(148), a dental implant, a nasal piercing, or a nasal anchor.

A10.2. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA10-A10.1, wherein the anchor (48) is configured to be adhesively bondedto the tooth (120).

A10.3. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA10-A10.2, wherein the anchor (48) is configured to extend at leastpartially, and optionally fully, around the tooth (120).

A10.4. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA10-A10.3, wherein the anchor (48) is configured to be removably clippedto one of a/the septal region (108) of the nose (104) or a/the wing(110) of the nose (104).

A10.5. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA10-A10.4, wherein the anchor (48) is configured to extend through atleast a/the portion of the nose (104).

A10.6. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA10-A10.5, wherein the body (12) is configured to at least one ofmechanically or magnetically be coupled to the anchor (48).

A10.7. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA10-A10.6, further comprising a tether (50) interconnecting the body(12) and the anchor (48).

A11. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA-A10.7, wherein the body (12) comprises an antimicrobial material (52).

A11.1. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of paragraph A11, whereinthe antimicrobial material (52) is at least one of embedded in the body(12) or applied to the exterior of the body (12).

A12. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA-A11.1, wherein the at least one pathogen-deactivating mechanism (14)comprises at least one light source (54) supported by the body (12) andconfigured to emit light within a germicidal spectrum.

A12.1. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of paragraph A12, whereinthe at least one light source (54) is configured to emit the lightwithin a/the nostril (112) of a/the nose (104) of the living individual(102) when the body (12) is operatively coupled relative to the nose(104).

A12.2. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA12-A12.1, wherein the at least one light source (54) is configured toemit the light primarily, and optionally solely, within a single nostril(112) of a/the nose (104) of the living individual (102) when the body(12) is operatively coupled relative to the nose (104).

A12.2.1. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA12-A12.2, wherein the at least one light source (54) comprises a firstlight source (54) configured to emit light primarily, and optionallysolely, within a first nostril (112) of a/the nose (104) of the livingindividual (102) when the body (12) is operatively coupled relative tothe nose (104) and a second light source (54) configured to emit lightprimarily, and optionally solely, within a second nostril (112) of thenose (104) of the living individual (102) when the body (12) isoperatively coupled relative to the nose (104).

A12.3. The body-worn air treatment device (10) of paragraph A12, whereinthe at least one light source (54) is configured to emit the lightwithin an oral cavity of a/the mouth (106) of the living individual(102) when the body (12) is operatively coupled relative to a/the tooth(120) of the living individual.

A12.4. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA12-A12.3, wherein the body (12) at least partially defines a/the void(28) radially inward from the body (12), and wherein the body (12) isshaped, and the at least one light source (54) is supported by the body(12) in a position, such that when the at least one light source (54) isactivated, the light is directed to an entirety of the void (28).

A12.5. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA12-A12.4, wherein the at least one light source (54) is configured toemit the light within a/the mouth (106) of the living individual (102)when the body (12) is operatively coupled proximate to the respiratorytract inlet (100) of the living individual (102).

A12.6. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA12-A12.5, wherein the at least one light source (54) is configured toemit the light external and proximate to a nasal cavity (114) and/ora/the mouth (106) of the living individual (102) when the body (12) isoperatively coupled proximate to the respiratory tract inlet (100) ofthe living individual (102).

A12.6.1. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of paragraph A12.6,wherein the at least one light source (54) is configured to emit acurtain (55) of the light proximate to the nasal cavity (114) and/ora/the mouth (106) of the living individual (102) when the body (12) isoperatively coupled proximate to the respiratory tract inlet (100) ofthe living individual (102).

A12.6.1.1. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of paragraph A12.6.1,further comprising one or more of lenses (56) or reflectors (58)supported by the body (12) relative to the at least one light source(54) and configured to direct the light as the curtain (55) of thelight.

A12.7. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA12-A12.6.1.1, wherein the at least one light source (54) is supportedby the body (12) such that the body (12) shields tissue of the livingindividual (102) from the light when the body (12) is operativelycoupled proximate to the respiratory tract inlet (100) of the livingindividual (102).

A12.8. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA12-A12.7, wherein the body (12) is shaped to shield tissue of theliving individual (102) from the light when the body (12) is operativelycoupled proximate to the respiratory tract inlet (100) of the livingindividual (102).

A12.8.1. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of paragraph A12.8,wherein the body (12) defines a/the void (28) radially inward from thebody (12), and wherein the at least one light source (54) is configuredto emit the light solely within the void (28).

A12.8.2. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA12.8-A12.8.1, wherein the body (12) defines a light trap (60), andwherein the at least one light source (54) is configured to emit thelight solely within the light trap (60).

A12.9. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA12-A12.8.2, wherein the body (12) defines a circuitous pathway (62),through which air is permitted to flow when the body (12) is operativelycoupled proximate to the respiratory tract inlet (100) of the livingindividual (102), and wherein the at least one light source (54) isconfigured to emit the light throughout at least a substantial portionof the circuitous pathway (62).

A12.9.1. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of paragraph A12.9,wherein the circuitous pathway (62) is fully within or substantiallywithin a/the nostril (112) of a/the nose (104) of the living individual(102) when the body (12) is operatively coupled proximate to therespiratory tract inlet (100) of the living individual (102).

A12.9.2. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of paragraph A12.9,wherein the circuitous pathway (62) extends within and outside of a/thenostril (112) of a/the nose (104) of the living individual (102) whenthe body (12) is operatively coupled proximate to the respiratory tractinlet (100) of the living individual (102).

A12.10. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA12-A12.9.2, wherein the body (12) at least partially defines a/the void(28) radially inward from the body (12), wherein the body (12) comprisesan inward surface (64) facing the void (28), and wherein the inwardsurface (64) is configured to reflect at least 20%, at least 40%, atleast 60%, or at least 80% of the light.

A12.11. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA12-A12.10, wherein the body (12) at least partially defines a/the void(28) radially inward from the body (12) and through which air ispermitted to flow when the body (12) is operatively coupled proximate tothe respiratory tract inlet (100) of the living individual (102),wherein the body (12) comprises a covering (70) extending across thevoid (28), and wherein the covering (70) is configured to permit airflow therethrough.

A12.11.1. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of paragraph A12.11,wherein the covering (70) is further configured to restrict passage ofvisible light therethrough.

A12.11.2. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA12.11-A12.11.1, wherein the covering (70) is further configured torestrict passage of UV light therethrough.

A12.11.3. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA12.11-A12.11.2, wherein the covering (70) is further configured torestrict passage of near UVC light (230-280 nm) therethrough.

A12.11.4. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA12.11-A12.11.3, wherein the void (28) has first and secondlongitudinally spaced ends regions (72), and further wherein thecovering (70) extends across one of the first and the secondlongitudinally spaced end regions (72).

A12.11.5. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA12.11-A12.11.4, wherein the covering (70) extends across both of thefirst and the second longitudinally spaced end regions (72).

A12.11.6. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA12.11-A12.11.5, wherein the covering (70) encapsulates the body (12).

A12.12. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA12-A12.11.6, wherein the at least one light source (54) is configuredto emit light primarily, and optionally solely, within the germicidalspectrum.

A12.13. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA12.11-A12.12, wherein the at least one light source (54) is configuredto not emit light within the visible spectrum.

A12.14. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA12-A12.13, wherein the at least one light source (54) comprises a lightfilter (74).

A12.14.1. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of paragraph A12.14,wherein the light filter (74) is configured to prevent emission ofvisible light.

A12.14.2. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA12.14-A12.14.1, wherein the light filter (74) is configured to preventemission of light in the near UVC range (230-280 nm).

A12.15. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA12-A12.14.2, wherein the at least one light source (54) is configuredto emit light within the UV range.

A12.16. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA12-A12.15, wherein the at least one light source (54) is configured toemit light within the UVC range.

A12.17. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA12-A12.16, wherein the at least one light source (54) is configured toemit light solely within the UVC range.

A12.18. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA12-A12.17, wherein the at least one light source (54) is configured toemit light within the far UVC range (205-230 nm).

A12.19. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA12-A12.18, wherein the at least one light source (54) is configured toemit light solely within the far UVC range (205-230 nm).

A12.20. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA12-A12.19, wherein the at least one light source (54) is configured toemit light having a wavelength of 222 nm.

A12.21. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA12-A12.20, wherein at least a substantial portion of, and optionallyall of, the light has a wavelength of 222 nm.

A12.22. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA12-A12.21, wherein the at least one light source (54) is configured toemit lightly solely within a spectrum configured to not damage humantissue.

A12.23. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA12-A12.22, wherein the at least one light source (54) comprises one ormore LEDs (76) configured to emit the light within the germicidalspectrum.

A13. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA-A12.23, wherein the at least one pathogen-deactivating mechanism (14)is configured to generate an electric field (77) through which air ispermitted to flow when the body (12) is operatively coupled proximate tothe respiratory tract inlet (100) of the living individual (102).

A13.1. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of paragraph A13, whereinthe electric field (77) is sufficient to deactivate pathogens.

A13.2. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA13-A13.1, wherein the pathogen-deactivating mechanism (14) comprises anelectroceutical fabric (78).

A13.2.1. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of paragraph A13.2,wherein the body (12) at least partially defines a/the void (28)radially inward from the body (12) and through which air is permitted toflow when the body (12) is operatively coupled proximate to therespiratory tract inlet (100) of the living individual (102), andwherein the electroceutical fabric (78) spans the void (28).

A13.2.1.1. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of paragraph A13.2.1,wherein the electroceutical fabric (78) comprises a plurality of plies(80) that spans the void (28).

A14. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA-A13.2.1.1, wherein the body (12) is configured to support a powersource (82) to power the at least one pathogen-deactivating mechanism(14).

A14.1. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of paragraph A14, furthercomprising the power source (82).

A14.2. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA14-A14.1, wherein the power source (82) comprises one or more batteries(84).

A14.3. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA14-A14.2, wherein the power source (82) comprises one or morerechargeable batteries (84).

A14.3.1. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of paragraph A14.3,wherein the one or more rechargeable batteries (84) are configured to berecharged via a contactless recharger.

A14.4. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA14-A14.3.1, further comprising a charging port (66) supported by thebody (12) and configured to be selectively coupled to an external powersource for charging the power source (82).

A15. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA-A14.4, further comprising a controller (85) supported by the body (12)and configured to one or more of:

regulate a voltage applied by a/the power source (82) to the at leastone pathogen-deactivating mechanism (14);

regulate a current supplied by the power source (82) to the at least onepathogen-deactivating mechanism (14);

track a number of cycles that the at least one pathogen-deactivatingmechanism (14) has been activated;

track a length of time that the at least one pathogen-deactivatingmechanism (14) has been activated;

restrict activation of the at least one pathogen-deactivating mechanism(14) upon the at least one pathogen-deactivating mechanism (14) havingbeen activated for a predetermined length of time;

restrict activation of the at least one pathogen-deactivating mechanism(14) upon the power source (82) falling below a predetermined powerlevel;

restrict activation of the at least one pathogen-deactivating mechanism(14) based at least in part on criteria associated with efficacy of theat least one pathogen-deactivating mechanism (14);

generate an alert upon the at least one pathogen-deactivating mechanism(14) having been activated for a predetermined length of time;

generate an alert upon the power source (82) falling below apredetermined power level;

generate an alert based at least in part on criteria associated withefficacy of the at least one pathogen-deactivating mechanism (14); or

determine a potential output of the power source (82) and to restrictactivation of the at least one pathogen-deactivating mechanism (14) whenthe power source (82) does not have sufficient output to activate the atleast one pathogen-deactivating mechanism (14) for a predeterminedperiod of time.

A15.1. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of paragraph A15, furthercomprising a user control (86) supported by the body (12) andoperatively coupled to the controller (85).

A15.1.1. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of paragraph A15.1,wherein the user control (86) is configured to permit a user to one ormore of:

activate the at least one pathogen-deactivating mechanism (14);

deactivate the at least one pathogen-deactivating mechanism (14);

program the controller (85); or

set an activation period of time for the at least onepathogen-deactivating mechanism (14).

A15.2. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA15-A15.1.1, further comprising a wireless transceiver (88) and/or awired connection port (90) supported by the body (12) and coupled to thecontroller (85), wherein the controller (85) is further configured sendvia the wireless transceiver (88) and/or the wired connection port (90)signals representative of one or more of:

a status of the power source (82);

a status of the at least one pathogen-deactivating mechanism (14);

the voltage across the power source (82);

the current able to be supplied by the power source (82);

the number of cycles that the at least one pathogen-deactivatingmechanism (14) has been selectively activated;

the length of time that the at least one pathogen-deactivating mechanism(14) has been selectively activated; or

a subsequent length of time the power source (82) is able to operativelypower the at least one pathogen-deactivating mechanism (14).

A15.2.1. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of paragraph A15.2,wherein the controller (85) is further configured to receive via thewireless transceiver (88) and/or the wired connection port (90) signalsrepresentative of instructions to one or more of: activate the at leastone power source (82);

deactivate the at least one power source (82);

program the controller (85); or

set an/the activation period of time for the at least onepathogen-deactivating mechanism (14).

A15.2.2. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA15.2-A15.2.1, in combination with non-transitory computer readablemedia (92) having computer executable instructions configured to cause acomputing device to communicate with the controller (85) via thewireless transceiver (88) and/or the wired connection port (90).

A16. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA-A15.2.2, further comprising an indicator (94) supported by the body(12) and configured to indicate a current status of the body-wornair-treatment device (10).

A16.1. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of paragraph A16, whereinthe indicator (94) comprises one or more of a visible indicator or anaudible indicator.

A17. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA-A16.1, further comprising a display (96) supported by the body (12)and configured to display information associated with the body-wornair-treatment device (10).

A18. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphs A-A17,wherein the body (12) is configured to mate with, extend into, orotherwise nest or nestle with a specific portion or portions of theliving individual (102) for operative retention of the device (10) onthe living individual (102).

A19. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphs A-18,wherein the body (12) comprises one or more sub-portions (65) that aresized and/or shaped to mate with, extend into, or otherwise nest ornestle with a/the specific portion or portions of the living individual(102) for operative retention of the device (10) on the livingindividual (102).

A19.1. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of paragraph A19, whereinthe one or more sub-portions (65) are configured to engage the specificportion or portions of the living individual (102) and restrict gravityfrom causing the device (10) to fall away from the living individual(102).

A19.2. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA19-A19.1, wherein the one or more sub-portions (65) are configured toengage the specific portion or portions of the living individual (102)to cause an opposite region of the body (12) to wedge or be urgedagainst another portion of the living individual (102), optionallyagainst a distal region of a/the nostril (112).

A20. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA18-A19.2 when depending from paragraph A1, wherein the specific portionor portions comprise a nasal vestibule of the living individual (102),and optionally a superior region of the nasal vestibule.

A21. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA18-A20, wherein the one or more sub-portions (65) comprise a projection(67).

A21.1. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of paragraph A21, whereonthe projection (67) is narrowed relative to an adjacent portion of thebody (12).

A22. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA-A21.1, wherein the body (12) at least partially defines a/the void(28) radially inward from the body (12).

A22.1. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of paragraph A22, whereinthe body (12) defines a plurality of baffles (63) extending into thevoid (28) and configured to disrupt airflow through the void (28).

A22.1.1. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of paragraph A22.1,wherein the plurality of baffles (63) define a/the circuitous pathway(62).

A22.1.2. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA22.1-A22.1.1, wherein the baffles (63) are arcuate in shape and extendfrom opposing sides of the void (28).

A22.1.3. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA22.1-A22.1.2, wherein the baffles (63) define a central channel region(332) between a first opening (334) and a second opening (336) to thevoid (28).

A22.2. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA22-A22.1.3, wherein the body (12) has a first flared region (338) thatat least partially defines a/the first opening (334) to the void (28).

A22.2.1. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of paragraph A22.1,wherein the body (12) has a second flared region (339) that at leastpartially defines a/the second opening (336) to the void (28).

A22.2.2. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA22.2-A22.2.1 when depending from paragraph A1, wherein the first flaredregion (338) is configured to nestle against an opening of the nose(104), and optionally an inferior side of the opening.

A23. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA-A6.4, A8-A8.2, A10, A10.6-A17, wherein the body (12) is configured tobe selectively coupled to a head (116) of the living individual (102).

A23.1. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of paragraph A23, whereinthe body (12) defines or forms a hat, a visor, a cap, a headband, otherheadwear, eyewear, glasses, or an eyewear frame (162).

A23.2. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA23-A23.1, wherein the body (12) comprises:

a head mount (98) configured to be selectively and operatively coupledto the head (116); and

optionally, a support (99) extending from the head mount (98), whereinthe pathogen-deactivating mechanism (14) is at least partially supportedby at least one of the head mount (98) and the support (99).

A23.2.1. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of paragraph A23.2,wherein the pathogen-deactivating mechanism (14) comprises at leastone/the light source (54) supported by the support (99) and configuredto emit light within a/the germicidal spectrum.

A24. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of paragraph A, furthercomprising any suitable subject matter from any of paragraphsA1-A23.2.1.

A25. Use of the body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsA-A24 to deactivate pathogens entering and/or exiting the respiratorytract inlet (100) of the living individual (102).

B. A body-worn air-treatment device (10), comprising:

a body (12) configured to be selectively coupled proximate a respiratorytract inlet (100) of a living individual (102); and

a pathogen-deactivating mechanism (14) supported by the body (12);

wherein:

-   -   the body (12) is configured to be selectively coupled to a nose        (104) of the living individual (102), and the        pathogen-deactivating mechanism (14) is positioned to deactivate        pathogens within the nose (104) of the living individual (102)        as the pathogens pass the pathogen-deactivating mechanism (14)        responsive to the living individual (102) breathing through the        nose (104); or    -   the body (12) is configured to be selectively coupled to a tooth        (120) of the living individual (102), and the        pathogen-deactivating mechanism (14) is positioned to deactivate        pathogens within the mouth (106) of the living individual (102)        as the pathogens pass the pathogen-deactivating mechanism (14)        responsive to the living individual (102) breathing through the        mouth (106); or    -   the body (12) is configured to be selectively coupled to a head        (116) of the living individual (102), the body (12) defines        headwear, and the pathogen-deactivating mechanism (14) is        positioned to deactivate pathogens as the pathogens enter and        exit the nose (104) and the mouth (106) responsive to the living        individual (102) breathing.

B1. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of paragraph B, furthercomprising the subject matter of any of paragraphs A-A24.

B2. Use of the body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any of paragraphsB-B1 to deactivate pathogens entering and/or exiting the respiratorytract inlet (100) of the living individual (102).

C. A method (200), comprising deactivating (202) pathogens proximate arespiratory tract inlet (100) of a living individual (102).

C1. The method (200) of paragraph C, wherein the deactivating (202)comprises emitting (204) light within a germicidal spectrum proximate tothe respiratory tract inlet (100) of the living individual (102).

C1.1. The method (200) of paragraph C1, wherein the emitting (204)comprises emitting the light within a nostril (112) of a nose (104) ofthe living individual (102).

C1.2. The method (200) of any of paragraphs C1-C1.1, wherein theemitting (204) comprises emitting the light within a mouth (106) of theliving individual (102).

C1.3. The method (200) of paragraph C1, wherein the emitting (204)comprises emitting a curtain (55) of the light proximate to a nasalcavity (114) and/or a mouth (106) of the living individual (102).

C2. The method (200) of any of paragraphs C-C1.3, wherein thedeactivating (202) comprises generating (206) an electric field (77),through which air flows proximate to the respiratory tract inlet (100)of the living individual (102) when the living individual (102)breathes.

C3. The method (200) of any of paragraphs C-C2, further comprising anysuitable subject matter of any of paragraphs A-B1.

C4. The method (200) of any of paragraphs C-C3, wherein the method (200)is performed by the body-worn air-treatment device (10) of any ofparagraphs A-B1.

As used herein, the terms “adapted” and “configured” mean that theelement, component, or other subject matter is designed and/or intendedto perform a given function. Thus, the use of the terms “adapted” and“configured” should not be construed to mean that a given element,component, or other subject matter is simply “capable of” performing agiven function but that the element, component, and/or other subjectmatter is specifically selected, created, implemented, utilized,programmed, and/or designed for the purpose of performing the function.It is also within the scope of the present disclosure that elements,components, and/or other recited subject matter that is recited as beingadapted to perform a particular function may additionally oralternatively be described as being configured to perform that function,and vice versa. Similarly, subject matter that is recited as beingconfigured to perform a particular function may additionally oralternatively be described as being operative to perform that function.

As used herein, the term “and/or” placed between a first entity and asecond entity means one of (1) the first entity, (2) the second entity,and (3) the first entity and the second entity. Multiple entries listedwith “and/or” should be construed in the same manner, i.e., “one ormore” of the entities so conjoined. Other entities optionally may bepresent other than the entities specifically identified by the “and/or”clause, whether related or unrelated to those entities specificallyidentified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and/orB,” when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as“comprising,” may refer, in one example, to A only (optionally includingentities other than B); in another example, to B only (optionallyincluding entities other than A); in yet another example, to both A andB (optionally including other entities). These entities may refer toelements, actions, structures, steps, operations, values, and the like.

As used herein, the term “restrict,” as used to describe a mechanism oraction in opposition to a process or outcome, is intended to indicatethat the mechanism or action operates to at least substantially, andoptionally fully, diminish, block, and/or preclude the process oroutcome from proceeding and/or being completed. As examples, the use ofthe term “restrict,” such as in describing a mechanism as restrictingvisible light being emitted from light source 54, is intended toindicate that the mechanism impedes, blocks, obstructs, selectivelyprevents, and/or otherwise substantially limits visible light from beingemitted from the device 10. As used herein, the term “prevent,” as usedto describe a mechanism or action in opposition to a process or outcome,is intended to indicate that the mechanism or action operates to fullyblock and/or preclude the process or outcome from proceeding and/orbeing completed during operative use of the structures and componentsaccording to the present disclosure. Thus, a mechanism that preventsvisible light from being emitted from light source 54 precludes visiblelight from being emitted from light source 54, at least during intendedoperative use of the device 10. Stated differently, as used herein, theterm “prevent” is not intended to indicate that the mechanism or actionwill fully block and/or preclude the process or outcome from proceedingand/or being completed in all possible uses, but rather is intended toindicate that the process or outcome is prevented at least when thestructures and components disclosed herein are utilized in a mannerconsistent with the present disclosure.

As used herein, the term “substantial” or “substantially,” whenmodifying a degree or relationship, includes not only the recited“substantial” degree or relationship, but also the full extent of therecited degree or relationship. A substantial amount of a recited degreeor relationship may include at least 50%, and in some examples at least75%, of the recited degree or relationship. For example, a device 10that deactivates at least a substantial portion of pathogens being actedupon by the device includes a device 10 that deactivates 50% or 75% ofthe pathogens, as well as devices 10 that deactivate more than 50% or75% of the pathogens, including 100% of the pathogens.

As used herein, the terms “selective” and “selectively,” when modifyingan action, movement, configuration, or other activity of one or morecomponents or characteristics of an apparatus, mean that the specificaction, movement, configuration, or other activity is a direct orindirect result of one or more dynamic processes, as described herein.The terms “selective” and “selectively” thus may characterize anactivity that is a direct or indirect result of user manipulation of anaspect of, or one or more components of, the apparatus, or maycharacterize a process that occurs automatically, such as via themechanisms disclosed herein.

As used herein, the phrase “at least one,” in reference to a list of oneor more entities should be understood to mean at least one entityselected from any one or more of the entities in the list of entities,but not necessarily including at least one of each and every entityspecifically listed within the list of entities and not excluding anycombinations of entities in the list of entities. This definition alsoallows that entities may optionally be present other than the entitiesspecifically identified within the list of entities to which the phrase“at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those entitiesspecifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, “at least oneof A and B” (or, equivalently, “at least one of A or B,” or,equivalently “at least one of A and/or B”) may refer, in one embodiment,to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, with no Bpresent (and optionally including entities other than B); in anotherembodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, withno A present (and optionally including entities other than A); in yetanother embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one,A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (andoptionally including other entities). In other words, the phrases “atleast one,” “one or more,” and “and/or” are open-ended expressions thatare both conjunctive and disjunctive in operation. For example, each ofthe expressions “at least one of A, B, and C,” “at least one of A, B, orC,” “one or more of A, B, and C,” “one or more of A, B, or C,” and “A,B, and/or C” may mean A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A andC together, B and C together, A, B, and C together, and optionally anyof the above in combination with at least one other entity.

As used herein, the phrase, “for example,” the phrase, “as an example,”and/or simply the term “example,” when used with reference to one ormore components, features, details, structures, embodiments, and/ormethods according to the present disclosure, are intended to convey thatthe described component, feature, detail, structure, embodiment, and/ormethod is an illustrative, non-exclusive example of components,features, details, structures, embodiments, and/or methods according tothe present disclosure. Thus, the described component, feature, detail,structure, embodiment, and/or method is not intended to be limiting,required, or exclusive/exhaustive; and other components, features,details, structures, embodiments, and/or methods, including structurallyand/or functionally similar and/or equivalent components, features,details, structures, embodiments, and/or methods, are also within thescope of the present disclosure.

The various disclosed elements of apparatuses and steps of methodsdisclosed herein are not required to all apparatuses and methodsaccording to the present disclosure, and the present disclosure includesall novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations of thevarious elements and steps disclosed herein. Moreover, one or more ofthe various elements and steps disclosed herein may define independentinventive subject matter that is separate and apart from the whole of adisclosed apparatus or method. Accordingly, such inventive subjectmatter is not required to be associated with the specific apparatusesand methods that are expressly disclosed herein, and such inventivesubject matter may find utility in apparatuses and/or methods that arenot expressly disclosed herein.

It is believed that the disclosure set forth above encompasses multipledistinct inventions with independent utility. While each of theseinventions has been disclosed in its preferred form, the specificembodiments thereof as disclosed and illustrated herein are not to beconsidered in a limiting sense as numerous variations are possible. Thesubject matter of the inventions includes all novel and non-obviouscombinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features,functions and/or properties disclosed herein. Similarly, when thedisclosure or subsequently filed claims recite “a” or “a first” elementor the equivalent thereof, such disclosure and/or claims should beunderstood to include incorporation of one or more such elements,neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.

It is believed that the following claims particularly point out certaincombinations and subcombinations that are directed to one of thedisclosed inventions and are novel and non-obvious. Inventions embodiedin other combinations and subcombinations of features, functions,elements, and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of thepresent claims or presentation of new claims in this or a relatedapplication. Such amended or new claims, whether they are directed to adifferent invention or directed to the same invention, whetherdifferent, broader, narrower, or equal in scope to the original claims,are also regarded as included within the subject matter of theinventions of the present disclosure.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A body-worn air-treatment device (10),comprising: a body (12) configured to be selectively coupled proximate arespiratory tract inlet (100) of a living individual (102); and apathogen-deactivating mechanism (14) supported by the body (12); whereinthe body (12) is configured to be selectively coupled to a nose (104) ofthe living individual (102) to position the pathogen-deactivatingmechanism (14) to deactivate pathogens within the nose (104) of theliving individual (102) as the pathogens pass the pathogen-deactivatingmechanism (14) responsive to the living individual (102) breathingthrough the nose (104).
 2. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) ofclaim 1, wherein the body (12) comprises a sub-portion (65) that issized and shaped to nest with a nasal vestibule of a nostril (112) ofthe nose (104) of the living individual (102).
 3. The body-wornair-treatment device (10) of claim 2, wherein the sub-portion (65) isconfigured to cause an opposite region of the body (12) to be urgedagainst a distal region of the nostril (112).
 4. The body-wornair-treatment device (10) of claim 1, wherein the body (12) comprises aprojection (67) extending from one side of an adjacent portion of thebody (12) and that is narrowed relative to the adjacent portion of thebody (12), wherein the projection (67) is configured to nest with anasal vestibule of a nostril (112) of the nose (104) of the livingindividual (102), and wherein the projection (67) is configured to causethe adjacent portion of the body (12) to be urged against a distalregion of the nostril (112).
 5. The body-worn air-treatment device (10)of claim 1, wherein the body (12) at least partially defines a void (28)radially inward from the body (12), and wherein thepathogen-deactivating mechanism (14) is positioned to deactivatepathogens as the pathogens pass through the void (28) responsive to theliving individual (102) breathing through the nose (104).
 6. Thebody-worn air-treatment device (10) of claim 5, wherein the body (12)defines a plurality of baffles (63) extending into the void (28) andconfigured to disrupt airflow through the void (28).
 7. The body-wornair-treatment device (10) of claim 6, wherein the plurality of baffles(63) are arcuate in shape and extend from opposing sides of the void(28).
 8. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of claim 6, whereinterminal ends of the plurality of baffles (63) define a central channelregion (332) between a first opening (334) and a second opening (336) tothe void (28), wherein a first subset of the plurality of baffles (63)extend toward the first opening (334), and wherein a second subset ofthe plurality of baffles (63) extend toward the second opening (336). 9.The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of claim 5, wherein the body(12) has a flared region (338) that at least partially defines a firstopening (334) to the void (28), wherein the first opening (334) is aflared opening, and wherein the flared region (338) is configured tonestle against an opening of the nose (104) of the living individual(102).
 10. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of claim 1, whereinthe body (12) comprises a first body part (18) composed of a firstresilient material (22) and a second body part (20) at least partiallyembedded within the first body part (18) and composed of a secondresilient material (24), and wherein the second resilient material (24)has a spring constant greater than a spring constant of the firstresilient material (22).
 11. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) ofclaim 1, wherein the body (12) is resiliently conformable amongst arange of conformations comprising a sprung conformation and a flexedconformation, wherein the body (12) is biased toward the sprungconformation.
 12. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of claim 11,wherein the pathogen-deactivating mechanism (14) is configured to beautomatically activated when the body (12) is within a predeterminedsubset of conformations of the range of conformations.
 13. The body-wornair-treatment device (10) of claim 11, wherein the body (12) isconfigured to selectively engage opposite sides of a portion of the nose(104) of the living individual (102).
 14. The body-worn air-treatmentdevice (10) of claim 11, wherein the body (12) is configured to beselectively compressed toward the flexed conformation for insertion intoa nostril (112) of the nose (104) of the living individual (102) andreleased to expand toward the sprung conformation to engage insidesurfaces of the nostril (112) and be retained at least partially withinthe nostril (112).
 15. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of claim11, wherein the body (12) is configured to selectively engage oppositesides of a septal region (108) of the nose (104) or a wing (110) of thenose (104).
 16. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of claim 1,wherein the pathogen-deactivating mechanism (14) comprises at least onelight source (54) supported by the body (12) and configured to emitlight within a germicidal spectrum.
 17. The body-worn air-treatmentdevice (10) of claim 16, wherein the at least one light source (54) isconfigured to emit light within the far UVC range (205-230 nanometers(nm)).
 18. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of claim 16, whereinthe at least one light source (54) is configured to emit light solelywithin the far UVC range (205-230 nm).
 19. The body-worn air-treatmentdevice (10) of claim 16, wherein the at least one light source (54)comprises a light filter (74) configured to prevent emission of visiblelight.
 20. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of claim 16, whereinthe at least one light source (54) comprises a light filter (74)configured to prevent emission of light in the near UVC range (230-280nm).
 21. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of claim 1, wherein thepathogen-deactivating mechanism (14) is configured to generate anelectric field (77) sufficient to deactivate pathogens and through whichair is permitted to flow when the body (12) is operatively coupledproximate to the nose (104) of the living individual (102).
 22. Thebody-worn air-treatment device (10) of claim 21, wherein thepathogen-deactivating mechanism (14) comprises an electroceutical fabric(78).
 23. The body-worn air-treatment device (10) of claim 1, furthercomprising a controller (85) supported by the body (12) and configuredto one or more of: regulate a voltage applied by a power source (82) tothe pathogen-deactivating mechanism (14); regulate a current supplied bythe power source (82) to the pathogen-deactivating mechanism (14); tracka number of cycles that the pathogen-deactivating mechanism (14) hasbeen activated; track a length of time that the pathogen-deactivatingmechanism (14) has been activated; restrict activation of thepathogen-deactivating mechanism (14) upon the pathogen-deactivatingmechanism (14) having been activated for a predetermined length of time;restrict activation of the pathogen-deactivating mechanism (14) upon thepower source (82) falling below a predetermined power level; restrictactivation of the pathogen-deactivating mechanism (14) based at least inpart on criteria associated with efficacy of the pathogen-deactivatingmechanism (14); generate an alert upon the pathogen-deactivatingmechanism (14) having been activated for a predetermined length of time;generate an alert upon the power source (82) falling below apredetermined power level; generate an alert based at least in part oncriteria associated with efficacy of the pathogen-deactivating mechanism(14); or determine a potential output of the power source (82) and torestrict activation of the pathogen-deactivating mechanism (14) when thepower source (82) does not have sufficient output to activate thepathogen-deactivating mechanism (14) for a predetermined period of time.